THINK PINK

October is breast cancer awareness month and the boob is one cause that has everyone running and shopping towards a cure. We are all encouraged to think pink, and although a few times that manifests into the amusingly bizarre (yes, that is a cement truck... for the cure), the branding and message is clear... we cannot lose site of this worthy cause. Plus, it definitely makes for a fascinating pictorial and a little chuckle.

But in all seriousness, it is estimated by the American Cancer Society that in 2009 about 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States. In 2009, ACS estimates that about 40,170 women will die from breast cancer in the United States. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. In men, 1,910 new cases are projected in 2009, with 440 deaths. At this time there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. (from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation). And one of the premiere foundations in the U.S., having raised over $250 million for breast cancer research, is the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

And although I have no idea where you can buy your very own pink cement truck, there are an extraordinary amount of pink products you can find on the BCRF website from major corporate partners like Sony (pink Vaio laptop), Cartier and Coach to reknown designers like Michael Kors, Michael Stars and Tory Burch.

While we're all encouraged to shop to our (pink) heart's content, it's understandable that it may not be everyone's color of choice. So here's one super simple yet sophisticated product I think is smart on so many levels and you can get it in black - a quilted, insulated lunch bag (CABC lunch tote, $10) and $4 of every purchase is donated to BCRF. It doesn't look like my 5 year-old's lunch box. It's affordably priced and eventually pays for itself as you save on buying lunches. It's reusable and thus you're doing your part for the planet. And it supports a worthy cause. Thinking pink can lead to some genius results!