Cancer News Information

Breast cancer charities alone will raise more than six billion dollars this year. The money raised for all forms of cancer is impossible to estimate, but it is easily in the tens of billions. And for anyone who has ever had cancer or knows someone who has suffered from the terrible disease, they know that every penny raised is vital towards the ultimate discovery of a cure. Everything from t-shirts to key chains, lanyards to water bottles are used to entice people to donate to cancer charities, but what is the biggest selling non-profit product over the years? Cancer awareness ribbons. With their instantly recognizable shape, familiar colors, emotional ties and wearability, no matter your age or gender, these pieces are the backbone of any and all cancer awareness campaigns.

Back in the late 1960's and early '70's, at the height of the Vietnam War, yellow ribbons were popularized as a way of honoring young men fighting in the military. The ribbon phenomenon can actually trace its roots to the Tony Orlando song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree," and the rest is history. HIV/AIDS organizations ran with the ribbon theme some ten years after, and by 1992, dubbed "The Year of the Ribbon," every cause had adopted these pieces, including cancer organizations. And, with that, cancer awareness ribbons were born.

In the 21st century, every cause, be it medical, financial, social or environmental, has a designated color or pattern to attribute to their awareness ribbon. Cancer awareness ribbons though, are by far the most recognized, especially when it comes to pink breast cancer ribbons. Wearing one indicates to the rest of the world that you're fighting for your life, or love someone who is, and you're dedicated to winning that fight. These small promotional items have become powerful marketing tools, tugging at heart strings and opening up purse strings for over two decades.

With the popularity of cancer awareness ribbons, the ability to play with their design and put them in unexpected places has become a fad thing to do. Changing the solid pink color to stripes or polka dots does not confuse people, because the color and the shape are so distinctive and widely known. And the shape of the ribbon is showing up on hats, water bottles, Frisbees and even as tattoos of survivors or family and friends of those battling cancer. It doesn't seem to matter how you integrate cancer awareness ribbons into your fundraising plan as long as you do it.