Be Aware: October: Part One When people think of October, three things come to mind: Beer (Octoberfest), Halloween, and Boobs (Breast Cancer). There's actually many things to be aware of in October. Breast Cancer Awareness: Probably the most thought of cause for October. Instead of hitting you over the head with repeated facts, there is an in depth thread Here. A few ways you can show your support: Men: Shave your face clean. You can grow it back as you wish afterward. Beards For Cures/Beards for Boobs actually used to have sign ups to collect donations to do so, however now they sell merchandise in October and participate in No Shave November collecting donations to not shave. Dye your hair Pink! I did this last year and it really gets a conversation going, I had many family and friends stricken with breast cancer, so it felt nice raising awareness for people to self check and catch the disease early. Just be prepared for 2 months of pink/patchy pink unless you strip and dye a different color. Wear Pink! ribbons, clothes, it doesn't matter! Go Pink! Shave your head! Do you know someone in chemo and losing their hair? Show them bald is beautiful and shave your dome! Just talk to the loved one first, as some are only reminded they are sick as they watch your hair return as theirs does not. Make a donation to the American Cancer Society, Susan B Komen, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, or one of the many other REPUTABLE organizations funding research. Host a fundraiser Bullying Awareness: Bullying is an issue often overlooked. "It will make them tougher" is a common phrase uttered in response, when in reality it varies person to person. I was bullied as a kid due to my attention to my education, and I was a nerd (Lit, Music, Movie, misc) before nerds were cool. I came out the better for it by not tolerating bullying, and not letting people get to me as an adult. However, someone without a strong resolve may find it difficult to overcome bullying as a kid, teen, or even adult. Many, not all, tragic losses (suicides, homicides, mass attacks) can be attributed to a form of bullying. A Few Facts about bullying: Over 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year. Approximately 160,000 teens skip school every day because of bullying. 17% of American students report being bullied 2 to 3 times a month or more within a school semester. 1 in 4 teachers see nothing wrong with bullying and will only intervene 4% of the time. 71% of students report incidents of bullying as a problem at their school. 90% of 4th through 8th graders report being victims of bullying. 1 in 10 students drop out of school because of repeated bullying. As boys age they are less and less likely to feel sympathy for victims of bullying. In fact they are more likely to add to the problem than solve it. What You Can Do: Treat Others With Respect: Stop and think before you say or do something that could hurt someone. If You Are Bullied: Tell someone, calmly tell the bully to stop, and avoid places where bullying happens (don't get cornered). Avoid Cyber-Bullies: Always think about what you post. You never know what someone will forward. Being kind to others online will help to keep you safe. Do not share anything that could hurt or embarrass anyone else or yourself. Stand Up For Others: Let the bully know it's not ok, tell an adult, and do your best to be kind to the bullied person. Help reform your school/work bullying/harassment policies. Host a Stand Against Bullying event. Spina Bifida Awareness: Spina bifida is a birth defect that involves the incomplete development of the spinal cord or its coverings. The term spina bifida comes from Latin and literally means "split" or "open" spine. Spina bifida occurs at the end of the first month of pregnancy when the two sides of the embryo's spine fail to join together, leaving an open area. In some cases, the spinal cord or other membranes may push through this opening in the back. The condition usually is detected before a baby is born and treated right away. Teal ribbons with a blue edge are also used for SB Awareness by the Spina Bifida Association to encompass all forms of SB. A Few Facts about Spina Bifida: 20,000 to 200,000 US cases per year Non-curable but treatment can help. Can last for years or be lifelong The three most common types of spina bifida are: Myelomeningocele (sounds like: my-low-ma-nin-jo-seal): the most serious type of spina bifida. A sac of fluid comes through an opening in the baby’s back. Part of the spinal cord and nerves are in this sac and are damaged. This type of spina bifida causes moderate to severe disabilities, such as problems affecting how the person goes to the bathroom, loss of feeling in the person’s legs or feet, and not being able to move the legs. Meningocele (sounds like: ma-nin-jo-seal): a sac of fluid comes through an opening in the baby’s back. But, the spinal cord is not in this sac. There is usually little or no nerve damage. This type of spina bifida can cause minor disabilities. Spina Bifida Occulta (sounds like: o-cult-tuh): the mildest type of spina bifida. It is sometimes called “hidden” spina bifida. With it, there is a small gap in the spine, but no opening or sac on the back. The spinal cord and the nerves usually are normal. Many times, spina bifida occulta is not discovered until late childhood or adulthood. This type of spina bifida usually does not cause any disabilities. Suspected causes are lack in folic acid, diabetes in the mother, overheating the mother (sauna), or fever in the mother. What You Can Do: Organize a "Walk n Roll" event Wear SB Awareness colors Hold a Fundraiser LGBT History Month: Ok, so I realize this isn't a "cause" or "awareness" per say, but I feel that it should still be mentioned. LGBT History Timeline: Below is a few important milestones, there are many more, but a fast browser search will lead you to a fuller account. 1785 – Jeremy Bentham is one of the first people to argue for the decriminalization of {Censored} in England. 1791 – Revolutionary France (and Andorra) adopts a new penal code which no longer criminalizes {Censored}. France thus becomes the first West European country to decriminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults 1906 – Potentially the first openly gay American novel with a happy ending, Imre, is published. 1970 – The first Gay Liberation Day March is held in New York City; The first LGBT Pride Parade is held in New York 1972 – Sweden becomes first country in the world to allow transsexuals to legally change their sex, and provides free hormone therapy 2015- USA passes nationwide Same Gender Marriage laws What You Can Do: Rock your Rainbow!: wear rainbow Colored items to show your support and/or pride! Attend a pride event FURTHER READING: October Part Two October Part Three All statistics compiled from various Google searches, as posting links not pertaining to ATA/PiMD is not allowed a proper works cited is unavailable
I have a part two in progress, I came down with something so the creation was halted. I'll be sure to add this in if it's not on the list to do so. Thanks Slushy!
World mental health day is on the 10th of october i beleive... i had a thread ready to go. But i wont worry about it now lol.
Always with the breast cancer what about all the others? People who only wish to support breast cancer awareness is conceited and selfish.
"I was a nerd before nerds were cool" ️ Me tooo! This is why I love you tutsie, great thread too. *Muah* ??Don't forget to do your self-exams ladies (shush, pervs )
If you look at the rest of the thread it addresses more than Boobs, and provides a link to part two. Which covers mental illness, liver cancer, and more.
I should continue my parody hobby. There's a country song that might fit ^.^. Those under 25 or without country grandparents probably won't understand the reference.