| Don jeans at work to help fight cancer |
By: Bo Bradshaw, Tennessee News Service
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Posted: Friday, September 21, 2012 11:31 am
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NASHVILLE – Tennesseans can get a bit casual at the office next month as part of a national fundraiser for the fight against breast cancer. On National Denim Day, workers pay $5 or more to wear jeans for a day on the job. Laurie Rappa with the American Cancer Society says if you want to get some folks together and take part, get to the website www.denimday.com.
“You can register a team. When you do that, you will receive a tool kit, a step-by-step guide, a poster, donation forms and envelopes, and some pink ribbon pins to use.”
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Tennessee ranks as the sixth-highest state in terms of cancer deaths - and breast cancer is the most common diagnosis among women, other than skin cancer. The good news is that women in Tennessee fall below the national mortality rates. Since the event began in 1996, Lee National Denim Day participants have raised more than $86 million for the battle. Rappa says the goal for this October is $3.5 million.
“The proceeds this year are all benefitting the American Cancer Society and going to support breast cancer research, as well as community-based screening programs and lodging services provided by the American Cancer Society.”
Rappa says the funds for breast cancer research are going to good use, as evidenced by the drop in mortality figures.
“In the last two decades, the death rate from breast cancer has declined 32 percent. We have one-third more women surviving breast cancer today than we did 20 years ago.”
Doctors say many cancers can be avoided by improving your diet, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and making sure to get those early-detection cancer screening tests.
More information is available at www.denimday.com.
WCP 9.18.12
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