October Cause: Breast Cancer Awareness--LOTS of ways to THINK PINK

[Elly Rose Tech Support]

October we will think Pink, it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There is so much information out there on ways to help. I am sharing some ideas and links, please add your ideas to the discussion
29 Ways to Give in October:
1. Adopt a Sister. In October, make your gives to a specific individual. (Make it personal!) If you don’t know anyone going through breast cancer, you can contact your church, ask family members, or your local cancer support groups for someone to give to. You might also consider doing your gives for a caregiver who is helping someone with breast cancer.
2. Be constant; Don’t check out. While everyone is concerned in the beginning, be the friend that sticks around for all of it. If you have a church, put that person on the prayer list and let the congregation know what that person means to you.
3. Give a box of tissues with the lotion in them, in case she needs to cry.
4. Watch a short video on what to say to a friend that’s been diagnosed with breast cancer http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/31/friend-cancer_n_943129.html
5. Help support her by getting educated about dealing with the disease, treatment options, and community resources, such as support groups.
6. Be a source of facts, not opinions.
7. Make sure she has a tape recorder, so that nothing is missed that’s said during doctor’s appointments or consultations, this gives her and her loved ones the needed time to get used to the medical jargon after the appointment, when they’re better able to relax and think more clearly.
8. Be her gopher/ run her errands.
9. Get her gift certificates. For gasoline to get to appointments, groceries, or manicures, pedicures, facials or massage.
10. Volunteer to be her personal secretary, keeping friends and family informed when she is too tired to do so, avoiding her having the stress of multiple voicemails and emails to answer. Start a Facebook page or blogsite (with her permission) for others, where people can express their well-wishes and support, for her to read when she’s able.
11. Give her an uplifting, inspirational book. Books, puzzles, needlepoint all are things to create a distraction during chemo appointments. Books on CD are especially nice.
12. A maid to clean now and then. Or, if you know her well and she’s comfortable with your helping out, pitch in and do some housekeeping that she can’t do herself at the time.
13. Give a soft blanket to snuggle in for those chemo treatment days.
14. Be with them before, during and after surgery.
15. Take pets to the vet or the park or for walks around the block.
16. Start a ‘Help____Kick Cancer’ fund at http://www.chipin.com/.
17. Give a teddy bear to hold, hug, and cry into if she needs it.
18. Organize meals. When a mom isn’t able to cook for her family without getting nauseous, that can be hard. Make sure that her family has a dinner every night.
Freezer meals that can be reheated at their convenience are especially helpful.
19. Babysit or hire a babysitter for her, especially for when she has treatments or doctor’s appointments, but for time off, too.
20. Go grocery shopping. Keep her fridge stocked. Pick up her shopping list on a regular day each week when you’re doing your own grocery shopping. Canned food is appreciated.
21. Be her Movie Maven: keep her in a never-ending supply of DVD’s to watch.
22. Make her laugh. Laughter is the best medicine.
23. Random phone calls or texts to see how things are going, or just to talk or text about whatever is on her mind.
24. Give parking money for hospital trips.
25. Be a good listener. Listening to fears and being present, even in silence, allows her the liberty to express her anger and fears.
26. Give a soft, fluffy pillow. Silk pillows are extra nice for when hair loss occurs.
27. Don’t make visits all about the cancer. Follow her conversational lead; if she doesn’t want to talk about the disease that day, honor that.
28. Be that distraction. Take walks, go out to dinner, go see a movie. Too much focus on the disease is too much.
29. Give a pair of warm, fuzzy slippers.

*See other gift ideas here: http://www.29gifts.org/profiles/blogs/additional-gift-ideas-for-tho...
Other gift ideas:
*These were gathered from individuals who’ve had breast cancer, and Peg Schultz from the American Cancer Society, Boise Chapter.
cards
cookies
vitamins
spa certificates
A luxury terrycloth bathrobe
http://www.robetowellness.com/ by Dr. Toby Israel, design psychologist.
A headwrap scarf
A spunky full coverage hat
A cozy sleep cap
A case of Ginger Ale
A case of water bottles
A music or relaxation CD
A pair of soft bootie socks
Some fresh flowers
Book light (for those nights where insomnia is inevitable)
Some fresh fruit
medicated lip balm
http://www.cakeandaprayer.com.
Gas cards/ to assist in getting them to their treatments
Picture frames for kids’ drawings
Before/after pictures to encourage and show her how far she’s come.
Needlework projects to do during chemo treatments.
Puzzles
Books
Word search, crossword puzzles, something to do during treatment
Extra canned goods
Snacks for in the car, healthy fruit chews, saltine crackers, small individual bottles of ginger ale or bottled water
Softly scented herbal bath soaps, (overpowering smells can be too much)
Newspaper/ magazine subscription
Books on tape/ CD
Grocery certificate
Stamps/ stationary/thank you cards
Soothing music CD’s
A massage device/ Shiatzu or vibrating, heated massage wand
Foot lotion
Heated, vibrating foot bath
Collage of pictures of all of her good friends in a frame that says ‘Thinking of You’ or ‘We’re behind you.’
Beaded bracelet or anklet to wear to chemo from friends so she can feel your support while there.

[Deb~ Community Manager]

All fabulous ideas~ Too many people are lost to this horrible disease~ The most importanat gift you can give is yourself being present in their lives. Sometimes people tend to pull away from this and that is so sad.. Be aware and be there~ xoxo Thanks for this cause of the month. We need answers.. We need a cure.

[Tamiko Paquette]

A few more ideas...

Information for young women and girls--let's keep this topic public!

Be aware and sensitive that men are diagnosed with breast cancer too

www.cancercardxchange.com

Wear a pink t-shirt with friends and go out for the day--Awareness!

Pass out pink m&ms or gumballs for awareness

Use pink stationery for the month!

[Deb~ Community Manager]

Thanks Tamiko~ Love your ideas~

[Deb~ Community Manager]

I so believe in this cause and trying to find answers to solving the problem that takes many every day..

[Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder]

Of course if you have money to spare giving to the American Cancer Society of other large research-funding non-profits is a way to help find a CURE. Also: Check out ElysiaSkye.org if you want to support a smaller non-profit that provides education and prevention to women. Elysia is a fellow 29Gifter. We supported Elysia in October 2008 to raise money for an experimental vascular surgery to cure her lyphodemia (the result of a double mastectomy and lymph node removal after being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 24). Here is a brief interview I did with Elysia in Oct 2008. Her surgery was successful and she is doing well working in the entertainment industry in Hollywood.

Give at ElysiaSkye.org

[Deb~ Community Manager]

These ideas have helped me to help others... Thank you all for sharing them....