By Jameice Turk
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a month dedicated to honor those who are fighting, have survived or have lost their lives to breast cancer. One of the main reasons National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrated is to help raise money for research in finding a cure for this disease and encourage women to get regular checkups for early detection of breast cancer. October is the month where we all grab our pink garments from our closets and wear them to raise awareness about this disease. We wear the color pink because it is feminine, the universal color of love, and is associated with giving and receiving care.
While in the midst of celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many people forget that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month as well. Advocates and participating businesses, along with millions of other people, join together and wear the color purple to take a stand against battered women, children and men. Purple is the color that represents justice and power.
According to The Center for Women and Families, five people are murdered every day and an estimate of 12 million per year, are affected by domestic violence in some way. Domestic violence is an issue that not only affects the victim, but affects other people as well. Some people that can be affected by domestic violence are children, friends and relatives of the victim. When going into your closet and putting on your pink, remember to throw on a little purple too to raise awareness to both of these issues.
If you or someone you may know is suffering from Domestic Violence, please call The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 or visit their website www.thehotline.org. Also, if you are a woman between the ages of 20-39 please schedule routine breast exams every 3 years and every year for women who are 40 and over (cancer.org).
Photo courtesy of redstate.com