life as i know it...

In only a few days, the Canadian Breast Cancer Network's online auction will be over. Check it out now to buy some great Christmas gifts while contributing to a worthwhile cause.


They're auctioning tickets, trips, books, music, artwork, toys and much more!

Technorati tags: CBCN, breast cancer, Canada, auction

Posted in: breast cancer, health on October 26, 2006 1 comments    

On October first, I wrote a post about the overwhelming amount of pink ribbon products, and how you should question how much money from each sale is donated to which organization(s), and where the money is spent (Locally? Nationally? Internationally?).

A list of BlogHer blogs posting about about breast cancer and women's health led me to a post by MotherPie about shopping for a cause, which led me to the Think Before You Pink website, which lists some more critical questions to ask when buying pink ribbon products:

• What is the maximuim amount that will be spent? (some companies will only donate up to a maximum amount, no matter how many items are sold)
• How much money was spent marketing the product (vs. the amount donated to the cause)?
• What is the company doing to assure that its products are not contributing to the breast cancer epidemic?

If you don't receive satisfactory answers to your questions, consider whether your money would be better spent by donating directly to a breast cancer organization which funds programs that you support.

Technorati tags: breast cancer, fundraising, donation, charity, marketing, Canada

Posted in: breast cancer, health, helpful tips on October 17, 2006 2 comments    

The Canadian Breast Cancer Network is hosting an online auction from October 1-31. They have some really neat items, and it's a great opportunity to do some Christmas shopping, while contributing to a worthwhile cause.


They're auctioning:

• Live theatre and film tickets
• Jazz, blues and folk festival tickets
• Museum and art gallery passes
• Spa packages
• Hotel, ski and golf packages
• Sports tickets and memorabilia
• Books, agendas and calendars
• Toys and games
• Artwork and photography
• CDs

...among other things. Check it out!

Technorati tags: CBCN, breast cancer, Canada, auction

Posted in: breast cancer, health on October 03, 2006 1 comments    

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this blog has gone Pink for October.

It's hard to miss the pink this month, with the Run for the Cure merchandise in stores, commercials on TV, and segments on the news. While some people may feel that they're being overleaded with pink, breast cancer is a serious issue that must be thought about all year round, not only when the marketing is going full speed.

Did you know that breast cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian women? And did you know that an average of 407 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every week? (from the Canadian Cancer Society)

I just returned home from meetings of the Canadian Breast Cancer Network, and they were very eye opening. I'm not a member of the provincial networks, but it was really interesting to see how they work together, and hear about the work that they do.

The most interesting conversation of the week was one about the marketing of 'pink', saturation, and where your donations go.

When you go in a store, you'll inevitably see a bunch of products sporting a pink ribbon. But have you ever thought about how much money from that loaf of bread, package of candy, etc. goes towards the charity? Sometimes it's as little as 1 or 5 cents! Also, do you know where your money goes? Does it go to a local organization or chapter? A national one? One in another country? Keeping donation money in their community/region is very important for many people, as is knowing how much of their donation is used for administrative costs rather than research/education/equpiment, etc.

Next time you're in a store selling pink ribbon products, look for that information on the package. Ask a sales associate. Call the 1-800 number on the package. And if you get a vague answer like "your money goes to breast cancer research" - no organization or amount specified - ask for details (I tried that this week at a store in Ottawa). The more you inquire about your donation, the more companies will stop using the pink ribbon merely to sell products, while giving a, quite frankly, pathetic donation to the cause.

Some companies giving substantial per-item donations:

Marks Work Warehouse - In addition to special discounts and prizes, Mark’s will match 100% of the proceeds raised from the sale of their One Night, One Cause t-shirt, benefitting the Breast Cancer Society of Canada

Penny People Designs - 50% of the proceeds from pink ribbon notecards goes to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

Avon - Depending on the product, Avon will donate all net proceeds or full proceeds from its pink ribbon products to breast cancer charities

Holt Renfrew - 100% of proceeds from the HR Private Brand pink cashmere turtleneck go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

WonderBra - $5 from each 'Me collection' bra will go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

More CBCF sponsors here.

More information: Many breast cancer donations don't go into research: study (CBC)

Technorati tags: breast cancer, fundraising, donation, charity, marketing, Canada

Posted in: breast cancer, health on October 01, 2006 0 comments    

Time for a public service announcement!


Check out the Canadian Breast Cancer's first online auction, going on from June 1-30, 2006.

They have over 150 items up for auction, and will be listing new items every day or two. You can bid on some neat stuff: theatre tickets, hotel packages, CDs and books, etc. Items will be available between 7 and 20 days.

Technorati tags: breast cancer, Canada, Canadian Breast Cancer Network, CBCN, auction

Posted in: breast cancer, health on June 02, 2006 0 comments    

The Breast Cancer Site is a great website that I visit regularly. I don't remember how or when I first heard about the site, but I've been visiting it for years. They sell pink ribbon products and other items to help fund free mammograms for underprivileged women in the United States.

You can also help fund mammograms very quickly and easily (and at no cost to you), simply by clicking on a banner once a day. For every click, site sponsors donate money to the (U.S.) National Breast Cancer Foundation. It only takes 10 seconds a day!

Please visit the Breast Cancer Site and click on the Fund Free Mammograms button.

During the month of May, in honour of Mother's Day, your clicks are worth double. In the first 9 days of May, site visitors have funded 73.9 mammograms!


You can also visit their 'sister sites': The Hunger Site, The Child Health Site, The Literacy Site, The Rainforest Site, and The Animal Rescue Site.

Technorati tags: breast cancer, mammogram, pink ribbon, Breast Cancer Site, free mammograms

Posted in: breast cancer, health on May 09, 2006 0 comments    

One in two!!!

Watching Wendy Mesley's CBC Marketplace news report last night, I was absolutely shocked to hear that statistic. Why isn't this front page news?!

Her report was enlightening, but much too short (why did the CBC only give her a half hour? It deserved at least an hour; I had so many more questions). I hope they'll show it on TV again, but you can read a lot of the information, and watch the program online by clicking the link above.

• Note: It seems that Mesley's report has generated criticism among bloggers (click here and here) for being biased, but at least it's getting people to question the factors that may be leading to rising cancer rates. Regardless of opinions on journalistic slant, she raises important issues that must be examined.

The story focuses on the subject of environmental toxins, and how people are unknowingly poisoning their bodies by using everyday products. Most laundry detergents, household cleaners and even makeup contain carcinogens or other toxins that have been linked to cancer. Dairy products, fruits and vegetables can be contaminated by pesticides, and Canadian meat often contains growth hormones which are carcinogenic and have been banned by the European Union.

Currently in Canada, household and personal care products are not required to list all of the ingredients on their labels, so people can't make an informed decision about product safety while shopping. Manufacturers often print a partial list, or merely list the 'active' ingredients. Thankfully, by November 2006, full ingredient lists will be required.

While it is not realistic that we can eliminate all of the environmental toxins in our homes, we can let manufacturers know our concerns, and reduce our use of toxic products. I don't have many toxin-reduced or toxin-free products in my home right now; I never realized how harmful they could be. But when I heard that 1 in 2 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer, wow, was that a wake-up call! I want to reduce those statistics for my future children, and if searching for lesser known brands and paying a bit more money for them to reduce the toxins in my home is the answer, then I'm willing to do that.

The Marketplace website has links to a lot of informative resources, including the Guide to Less Toxic Products, maintained by the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia, which describes the toxins commonly found in household products, and recommends safer products. Also, the Labour Environmental Alliance Society publishes the CancerSmart Consumer Guide, which contains information on carcinogens, toxins and chemicals that are found in brand name products, and suggests alternatives and product substitutes.

Many people in my life have been touched by cancer, and now that I've heard this information, I can't ignore it. If shopping carefully will reduce, even a little bit, the chances of my loved ones getting cancer, then I'm willing to try.


On a related note, visit the Breast Cancer Site and click on the big pink button every day to help fund free mammograms for underprivileged women. 100% of the revenue collected from the site's sponsors goes to pay for mammograms. Since 2000, the site has funded 14,450 free mammograms.

Technorati tags: cancer, CBC, carcinogens, Wendy Mesley, mammogram, Canada

Posted in: breast cancer, health, household, toxic on March 06, 2006 1 comments    

My workplace received an email about this from the Canadian Breast Cancer Network. Please take a few minutes to support these fabulous ladies in their quest to raise money for Breast Cancer research!

The Vancouver radio station Jack FM is giving away $25,000 to the person or team that has the most creative idea for "showing the world that they listen to Jack FM".

A group of women are circulating their photo around the world via the Internet, in the hopes of winning the $25,000 to put towards the 60km 2-day fundraiser, Weekend To End Breast Cancer. Help the gals out by letting Jack FM know you saw them!

Click here to see "BJ and the Boobettes" and support their cause!

All you need to do is:

1. Sign the guestbook
2. Email Jack FM and tell them you saw "BJ and the Boobettes" with their banner!

Posted in: breast cancer, health on March 01, 2006 0 comments