Dear Friend of BB!, 

Signs of fall are everywhere - pumpkin spice lattes, that tell-tale chill in the air, the changing leaves, and of course an abundance of pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As you may know, I am conflicted about the pink ribbon. I wonder... what do you think when you see it? Does it make you feel sad, or mad, or scared, or guilty? Does it make you want to get your mammogram or tell the women you love to do their breast self-exams? And what does "breast cancer awareness" mean anyway? Aren't we all aware that breast cancer exists? Does it make you want to buy stuff? Or have you become immune to seeing it because it has become so prevalent on products?

So yes, I have a troubled relationship with the pink ribbon because I am not certain what it represents. I am thankful that the breast cancer awareness movement has brought much needed attention to this very serious disease that still kills over 40,000 women a year in the U.S. I am also thankful it has raised funds for research. But as I mourn the loss of two more young women of Beyond Boobs!, Carrie and Tamika, over the past two weeks, I also know that much, much more needs to be done. These women aren't a pink ribbon. They were mothers and wives, sisters and daughters.

So while we at Beyond Boobs! are grateful that a whole month has been dedicated to breast cancer awareness, we remain committed to using all 12 months of the year to get people beyond mere awareness. We're about taking action - action for health and action against breast cancer. Thank you for being part of our efforts.
 
Hugs,
Mary Beth
Did You Know?!

To know us is to love us! So we want you to know everything about BB!, especially if you're considering giving to a breast cancer-related charity during Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Here are two things you may not have known about us:
  • 78 cents out of every dollar we raise goes directly to the young women we serve and the programs we offer.
  • We are not subsidized by the government, nor do we charge a fee to the young women we serve.
Did you know you can keep your donation dollars local during Breast Cancer Awareness Month (and have some fun while you're at it) by joining us  to Go Pink with BB! this month?We have all kinds of fun ideas for your business that will help us raise funds: have a Dress Pink Day, host a party, or do a raffle - there are tons of creative ways to help us help survivors! Check out the Go Pink with BB! page for ideas and details.

Did you know you can help us with our mission while you shop, without spending any extra money? It's true! We receive a portion of sales when you shop:
  • Kroger Community Rewards (read about that here).
  • Amazon Smile (find more info here).
  • GoodSearch/GoodShop (here are those details).

Did you know you can contribute to BB! through your local United Way Campaign if your employer participates? You'll just need to write in our name.


 

Want to know more about us? Read our  top ten things to know about BB!
BB! News

We want to remind you about our partnership with  KCETLink! We're working together to promote "The C-Word," which will be broadcast at 9 p.m. October 7 on DirecTV channel 375 and DISH Network channel 9410, as well as on Southern California's public television station KCET (find satellite channel movie details here and KCET details here). Based on the true story of British blogger and author Lisa Lynch, who started the blog "Alright Tit" as an outlet to deal with her breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 28, the upbeat, brutally honest and bitingly witty film shares her story from breast cancer diagnosis to death. We hope you join us in watching this film! Also, thank you to KCETLink for promoting BB! and Pink-Link during this partnership!

KCETLink Media Group is a leading national independent, non-profit, public broadcast and digital network with services that include Southern California's public television station KCET and the Link TV nationwide satellite network (available to all subscribers on Dish Network and DirecTV).


Calling all state employees who are friends of BB! The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) is a voluntary state employee charitable giving program that raises funds for various nonprofit health and humanitarian organizations throughout the state of Virginia - including BB!

The campaign runs from October 1st through December each year. Employees may designate their gift to a specific charity or multiple charities within the program, by giving a one-time donation, or through payroll deduction. Click HERE for all the details. Please share with your state employee friends and family!
October Calendar Page

This month's picture is a collage of fabulous Boobers!, perfect for celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month! The story on the right shares BB!'s humble beginnings as a "Tea and Talk" that included Co-Founders Mary Beth and Rene, along with four other survivors. These were just young women reaching out to one another for support and understanding, and a little bit of fun. Oh, how far we've come! But we haven't forgotten that most important piece - love and support!
Thank you to our Calendar Sponsor this month!

Women's Imaging Pavilion
& Dorothy G. Hoefer Comprehensive Breast Centers 
Beyond Boobs! is dedicated to healing and saving lives by supporting young women diagnosed with breast cancer while providing breast health education for all. Each year, Beyond Boobs! publishes A Calendar to Live By featuring breast cancer survivors and their stories. Tucked inside the calendar, "A Guide to Caring for Yourself" offers important, even lifesaving, breast health information that every woman should know. Learn more at www.beyondboobs.org.

So many ways to
KEEP IN TOUCH!

'JUST FOR THE HEALTH OF IT!' COLUMN
Mediterranean Diet With Extra Olive Oil May Lower Breast Cancer Risk
from NPR
Eating a Mediterranean diet supplemented with four tablespoons per day of extra-virgin olive oil may reduce the risk of breast cancer.
A new study found that women following the Mediterranean diet had a 68 percent lower relative risk of developing breast cancer during a five-year follow-up period compared with women on the low-fat diet.

Healthy Recipe:
Irish Rebel Stew

This tasty, hearty stew includes good-for-you ingredients like olive oil and root veggies, as well as a low-fat protein: turkey. A good go-to fall recipe that's recommended by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Get the full recipe here!

Get Physical!
Run For the Hills

Hit the trails for a day of exercise and fun! Participate virtually or try a challenging combo of roads and beautiful nature trails through the Warhill Sports Complex and adjacent areas. This 5K/10K race and one mile fun run welcomes runners and walkers of all ages. Before and after the event, enjoy a community fall festival, pumpkin painting, face painting, henna, awards, and an expo of sponsors and community partners. Get details here!

Would you like to volunteer with us? Click HERE to find out more!

thankyou_paper_hdr.jpg
To all our fabulous
Sustaining Sponsors: