Decorative Packaging

With approximately 11,000 women diagnosed with cervical cancer every year it’s becoming more and more important that women of all ages and from all walks of life raise their awareness of this debilitating cancer and work to prevent it. Cervical cancer kills 4,000 women a year in the United States alone and in some developing countries it still ranks as a leading cause of death among women.

The awareness ribbon for January’s Cervical Health Awareness Month is teal on one side and white on the other. By participating this year you can help raise awareness of this serious cancer and provide inspiration and strength for cervical cancer sufferers. The families, friends and loved ones of those stricken with the disease can also find hope and inspiration in your participation. Let the people in your life know that you care about preventing and overcoming one of the most damaging types of cancer in the world.

December Awareness Ribbon Causes

Wearing Awareness Ribbons are an easy way to start conversations about a cause that is important to you.  December has several causes that have chosen it to be their month to raise awareness.

The Awareness Ribbon image in this post is a ribbon chosen by the   National Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, Inc.

Below the post is a detailed description of Aplastic Anemia gathered from the foundations web site.

Aplastic anemia occurs when the bone marrow slows down or stops the production of red and white blood cells and platelets. This can cause an increased risk of infection and symptoms of chronic fatigue and increased bleeding. The cause of this remains unknown in some patients but has been linked to toxins and infectious diseases.

Aplastic anemia can only be confirmed by a bone marrow biopsy in which a sample is taken from the pelvic bone. There are two commonly used treatment methods which involve immune suppressive therapy or a bone marrow transplant. While aplastic anemia was once deemed fatal, it is now manageable and even treatable for some patients.

November 2007
Sources: Health Day and Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation

Red Awareness Ribbon

The wearing of a red ribbon is a symbol for both drug prevention and for the fight against AIDS. In yesterdays post I mentioned the organization for raising awareness for the fight against drugs.  Today’s post will be directed towards the fight against AIDS.  The Red Ribbon Foundation is an organization founded in 1993 whose main purpose is the education about prevention of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Related Complex, ARC and AIDS.

AIDS Awareness Origin

The Red Ribbon Project was created by the New York-based Visual AIDS Artists Caucus in 1991.:

1. Remain anonymous as individuals and to credit the Visual AIDS Artists Caucus as a whole in the creation of the Red Ribbon Project, and not to list any individual as the “creator” of the Red Ribbon Project;
2. Keep the image copyright free, so that no individual or organization would profit from the use of the red ribbon;

The Red Ribbon should be used as a consciousness raising symbol, not as a commercial or trademark tool.  (From Wikipedia)

A large red ribbon hung between columns in the north portico of the White House for World AIDS Day, November 30, 2007

WHAT IS RED RIBBON WEEK?
Wearing and Awareness Ribbon is a great way for  communities to take a visible stand against drugs. Show your personal and family commitment to a drug-free lifestyle through the symbol of the Red Ribbon, October 23 – 31st.

2010 Campaign

The Red Ribbon Campaign is one of the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation. It reaches millions of young people and teens during Red Ribbon Week, October 23-October 31 each year. Wear your Red Badge proudly and have the courage to say no to drugs!!!

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Wearing an Awareness Ribbon helps to bring awareness to others that we need to find a cure.  Click the link to find all the colors you will need to make your own awareness ribbon for your own personal cause.

Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes—is a condition in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).

There are three main types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes: results from the body’s failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin.
Type 2 diabetes: results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes combined with an absolute insulin deficiency.
Gestational diabetes: is when pregnant women, who have never had diabetes before, have a high blood glucose level during pregnancy. It may precede development of type 2 DM.

November Awareness Causes

1 – 30
American Diabetes Month
American Diabetes Association

1 – 30
COPD Awareness Month
American Lung Association

1 – 30
Diabetic Eye Disease Month
Prevent Blindness America

1 – 30
Foot Health Issues Related to Diabetes Awareness Month
American Podiatric Medical Association

1 – 30
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Alliance

1 – 30
National Family Caregivers Month
National Family Caregivers Association

1 – 30
National Healthy Skin Month
American Academy of Dermatology

1 – 30
National Hospice Palliative Care Month
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

1 – 30
National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
No Stomach For Cancer, Inc.

1 – 30
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

1 – 30
Prematurity Awareness Month
March of Dimes Foundation

1 – 30
Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month
Pulmonary Hypertension Association

8 – 14
Drowsy Driving Prevention Week
National Sleep Foundation

8 – 14
National Drug Facts Week
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institutes of Health

17
Prematurity Awareness Day
March of Dimes Foundation

18
Great American Smokeout
American Cancer Society

20
National Survivors of Suicide Day
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

21 – 27
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness Week
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Check your local news paper and local news channels to see how you can get involved in your area to help make a difference.  There are activities going on all over the United States to help raise money for research to find better treatments, and possible cures.  You can make a difference, What if your involvement in some program, reached out to one person who went to get a mammogram, found an early problem and was treated and cured from cancer?  Wouldn’t it be worth what ever time you spent getting sponsors, raising money wearing a pink satin Awareness Ribbon ?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.   (BCAM) is a great time to educate yourself . Learn Your Risks, Responsibilities, and Ways to Raise Awareness for early detection and prevention.  Every October, pink ribbons are everywhere, they are on cans of soup in the grocery store to fashion bracelets, lapel pins and simple satin awareness ribbons pinned on everyone . You may ask, how does all that pink relate to breast health and breast cancer? The pink ribbon reminds us of our risks, responsibilities, and raising breast cancer awareness.  Early detection is the key to surviving breast cancer. Here are other awareness causes for October.  Get involved! Make a difference!

OCTOBER AWARENESS CAUSES
American Heart Walk

Children’s Health Month

Disabilities Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Dyslexia Awareness Month

Health Literacy Month

Healthy Babies Month

Healthy Lung Month

Lupus Awareness Month

National AIDS Awareness Month

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

National Crime Prevention Month

National Dental Hygiene Month

National Depression Screening Month

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

National Liver Awareness Month

National Physical Therapy Month

National Spina Bifida Month

National Spinal Health Month

National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month

National UNICEF Month

National Work and Family Month

Talk About Prescriptions Month

Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk

October 1
International Day of the Older Persons

October 1-7
National Mental Illness Awareness Month

October 2
Child Health Day

October 2-6
International Walk-to-School Week

October 5
National Depression Screening Day

October 8-14
National Fire Prevention Week

October 9-13
National School Lunch Week

October 10
World Mental Health Day

October 10
Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day

October 15-21
National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week

October 15-21
National Health Care Quality Week

October 16
World Food Day

October 16-22
National Health Education Week

October 20
World Osteoporosis Day

October 20
National Mammography Day

October 22-28
National Massage Therapy Week

October 22-29
National Respiratory Care Week

October 22-28
National Pharmacy Week

October 2-31
National Red Ribbon Campaign

October 24
Take Back Your Time Day

October 25
Lung Health Day

October 28
Make a Difference Day

Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon and Volleyball

This picture is of a High School girls Volleyball team that dressed out in pink for one game, and encouraged the fans to also do so.  They adorned them self with pink shirts, pink hair ribbons and bows and decorated the gym in pink. Grosgrain and Satin ribbon works well for awareness ribbons. Just be sure to trim the edge with some type of  hot crafting  knife to prevent fraying ends.

Our local middle school hosted a game this week with the same emphasis.  You can Google volleyball and breast cancer awareness to get more information on how you can get your school involved in this great idea.

Middle schools and High schools and colleges across the U.S are hosting volleyball matches to “pink-out” the stands this September and October. Breast Cancer Awareness month is October; this is a way to show support of this new research.

The Side-Out Foundation hoping  to attract more than 1,000 additional schools and colleges to compete in similar volleyball tournaments with a goal to raise $1,000,000 in support of breast cancer research and help teach these young women and their families the importance of early detection.  Many young women think that is just for much older ladies to worry about. But the girls need to be thinking about it now and becoming educated in detecting and talking to their physicians about it.

Purple Awareness Ribbon for Alcohol Awareness Month in September

( other September causes )

Suicide Awareness Week, STOP a Suicide Today , National Reye’s Syndrome Week, National Women’s Health and Fitness Day, Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, National Cholesterol Education Month.

Wear a purple awareness ribbon to show support for your cause and you can encourage others to get involved, get educated, and raise money to help fund research for causes like these.

An awareness ribbon can be imprinted with your cause or you can just wear a simple satin ribbon pinned to your shirt. However you decide to get involved in helping others, there is no time like the present to get started! For more information on raising awareness and education for Alcoholism, you can go to the NCADD- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, inc and its Affiliate Network is a voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting the Nations # 1 health problem- alcoholism and drug addiction and the devastating consequences of alcohol and other drugs on individuals, families and communities.

In addition to purple ribbons the NCADD is excited to offer the Believe in Recovery wristbands as a vehicle to raise awareness and funds.

The First Lady of Alcoholics Anonymous On that web site there is a link to get more info about the little-known life of Marty Mann. She was the first woman to achieve long-term sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous, Marty Mann advocated the understanding that alcoholism is an issue of public health, not morality. In their fascinating book, Sally and David Brown shed light on this influential figure in recovery history.

A purple ribbon is worn to raise awareness for various causes, including but not limited to the following:

• Animal abuse • Horse Slaughter • Overdose Prevention • Domestic violence • Eating Disorder Awareness • Alzheimer’s disease • Crohn’s Disease • Cystic Fibrosis • Epilepsy • Huntington’s disease • Lupus • Fibromyalgia • Arnold-Chiari Malformation • Homelessness • Victims of 9/11 • Macular degeneration • ADD and ADHD • Sarcoidosis • Pediatric stroke • Gastrointestinal cancer • Thyroid cancer[1] • Ulcerative Colitis

Many events associated with Down Syndrome have adopted the blue and yellow Awareness Ribbon as an iconic symbol and observance.  Down syndrome is the most common genetic condition. One in every 733 babies is born with Down syndrome. By clicking on the ribbon link in this post, you will find many options for making your own blue and yellow ribbons to wear while you attend some of the events. You may also want to wear it to share your feelings about those affected with Down Syndrome and encourage others to get involved in supporting the financial needs associated with it.

Many styles of shirts and merchandise are also used to raise money with portions of their profits going directly to the organization to help with research and providing for families affected.events.

Check out the Facebook page for the National Down Syndrome Society. This is a quote from that page.  “Throughout the months of September and October, My Great Story of the Week will be Buddy Walk themed! Submit your story for a chance to be picked!”

There is an event schedule on the http://www.ndss.org web site.  The Buddy Walk* is an event to raise money for families living with and helping loved ones with Down Syndrome.   

“The Buddy Walk® was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October. The Buddy Walk® has grown from 17 Walks in its first year to 270 Walks in 2009, with approximately 250,000 walkers per year. Since 1995, more than 2 million people have participated in the Buddy Walk® program worldwide. In 2009, the Buddy Walk® raised over $10 million to benefit local programs and services, as well as national advocacy initiatives.”