Think before you pink

Barbara

            Thank-you. That is where your money should go.

 Any time you have a large corp ( like komen) you have a problem. The really sad thing is its not komen's money being pledged its our money that we give being pledged. 

             What was the last disease that they have cured?

              Just wiped it off the face of the earth?

Unless it makes money it doesn't happen!!!!!!!!!!!

Give your money to who you feel would benefit the most from. I no longer  give to the heavy hitters.   

Barb I'm with you...................................

Barbara,

My family is a huge Komen supporter and we do buy some of the cause related marketing items.  Things that we buy on a weekly basis at the grocery store like toilet paper, yogurt (we eat lots), spaghetti noodles etc.  Would I like the $500 vacuum cleaner you bet but mine just broke and my hubby ran down to Lowe's to fix it and came home with an Eureka ($130)  It the everyday items that I will buy because I've sat at the Komen National Conference and have heard from the CEO's of these companies their desire and commitment to a word without breast cancer.

Just a side note.  My oldest son (11-6th grade) has worn a "Find the Cure" rubber bracelet to school everyday since I was dx in June 2006.  He never takes it off...sleeping, swimming, showering.  I've heard other kids ask him why he wears that pick bracelet and he says "My mom had breast cancer and I won't take it off until there is a cure."  So in his innocence he is getting the word out there.  Don't you think these other boys talk to their moms about breast cancer?  What a simple act and who know he just might save a life by wearing that 50 cent bracelet.

Rachel

Rachel, you have a great son - .  I am blessed with family and friends who are making this less traumatic to the bank accounts .  They've bought my groceries, cat and dog food, my sister-in-law also showed up with the money for my mortgage payment when I first lost my job.

My daughter has received so much support at college - and from virtual strangers.  One of her professors is even trying to find more financial aid so she can stay next year.   

Deb -  so sorry that you have to worry about bankrupting your family when the focus should be on getting you to ned.  I've been reading your posts since I joined and love your humor - reminds me of my own family.  Wish I were there to give you a huge hug.

Rocktober - blasted for saying this? What a hateful thing to say. It's sad that other women here don't have empathy for anyone else.  The hardest thing for me to read on here are the posts from others who are having a hard time financially, don't have emotional support, and those who don't have access to the wonderful facilities that are in my area.

Maybe we should all write to Hillary (and the rest of the candidates) - she came up with the plan to cure this - she needs input from those of us going through it (without the money and influential friends) to  see that along with the cure, we (and everyone with cancer) need other things too.  Hey, maybe I just found my next job as a political activist.

I do and will still give small amounts to Komen (they have done a lot in some places), but  the majority will go to the Ellie Fund here. Of course, first I have to get some money to give.

Barbara 

Hi, I skipped over the early posts in this thread, so if I'm out of sync, that's why.

I just wanted to vent about all the pink ribbons.  A lady at church gave me a gift bag a couple of weeks ago.  Eight cans of pink ribbon soup and a box of pinkribbon macaroni.  Her card said "you deserve it."   WTF????  I figure she spent maybe five dollars.

I find I have a hard time giving a civil thank you for pink ribbon stuff.  I got a pink ribbon exercise towel, a pink ribbon flower arrangement, and a framed pink ribbon needlepoint.   Do they think I freakin' forgot what I'm suffering from?

I hate pink.  I never liked pink, but I really hate it now.

I'm not going to get into the debate over Komen, but I will say that there is no help whatsoever available from my Komen affiliate to uninsured/underinsured women in need of screening or care for bc--even stage IV. I had the mistaken impression that at least a portion of my donations in the past had some direct impact on women with bc. Now I know better.

Here's my latest gripe about the overuse/exploitation of the pink ribbon:  Just last week I went to be re-fit for a prosthesis and bra. After visiting the fitter, my mom and I went to a department store. The store had a HUGE lingerie/bra department--probably 50 or more separate racks with bras. I decided to see if there were any mastectomy bras or if there was one available to have a pocket sewn into. As I was looking, my eye was drawn to a rack of bras that were sporting a large hang-tag bearing a pink ribbon. "Oh, cool!," thought I, "Here's a company paying attention to my needs!" I walked over to investigate. Nope, not a single mastectomy bra and the others were all underwired and inappropriate for a post-surgical sans reconstruction bc patient. They did, however, tout that "a portion" of the purchase price would be donated to a pink ribbon charity.

It just hit me wrong. I know that in the past I probably would have been more inclined to purchase a pink-ribbon bra if I were choosing between similar items and one bore the pink ribbon. I just find it highly insulting that this company is using the pink ribbon as a marketing tool and not even addressing those of us for whom the pink ribbon has become more of a noose than a symbol of hope.

I'm probably too sensitive about it, but that's how I feel.

Felicia the article rocks!!! I've been complaining about pink for so long now, thank you.  Junie, I chuckled at your luncheon tale with the red hats, good for you to be forthright, they should have listened, but maybe you got through to a few.  Naberthmom I'm going to check out the sight you recommended, so thanks everyone great thread.

I would love to know of a nonprofit organization that helps bc survivers pay their medical expenses.  There's a line of providers who want money from me.  I was surprised that only one of them showed up on my credit report in '06.  Never got around to checking it in '07. 

I truly question whether a cure or way to prevent cancer will be discovered during this time when drug companies are firmly seated on a throne of big piles of cash and infiltrating all aspects of medicine from congress to medical schools.  Perhaps donations would be of more benefit to help people get through the financial devastation.  It certainly devastated me.  I managed to preserve my retirement account when I got divorced, but a mere two years later, bc burned through it all and then some.  

I like the colour pink, but I dislike the fact that it reminds me of bc everywhere I go.  I can't even buy my favourite ice cream now without the pink lid on it.  If I wear pink am I a walking adertisement for bc? geesh

I had written a couple months ago about flipping out in Walmart ( I call it Wally World). I was leaving the store walking down the middle isle when I came upon PINK CASHMERE toiltet paper and I got so angry I started cursing and swearing, luckily a kind older lady came up to me and put her arm around me and said I understand.  I say lucky because I was so angry that I was ready to kick to TP all over at that point, and my cursing around children really wasn't a smart thing to do.  But get this they will donate 50cents if you mail in a UPC code, I'm thinking WTF it's 52 cents for a bloody stamp in Canada, that makes sense.  Hate the pink campaigns with a passion.