The Daily Tell

As the second most common cancer in women – and the second leading cause of cancer death – breast cancer represents a serious threat to women and their loved ones. To raise awareness and help further research for this devastating disease, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month organization (NBCAM) has designated October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The month has already shown a strong start with an initiative from the University of California, which has launched a breast cancer prevention, screening and treatment project on six of its campuses.

The initiative, called the ATHENA Breast Health Network, is supported by a $5.3 million grant from the University of California as well as a $4.8 million grant from the Safeway Foundation.

Other events this month include the Lee National Denim Day on October 2, one of the largest single-day fundraisers nationwide for breast cancer. The event urges everyone to wear jeans to work on that day, in exchange for a $5 contribution to the fight against breast cancer. Since its inception in 1996, the event has raised $75 million for breast cancer research and support, and attracts almost one million supporters across the country each year.

The month will also feature the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Houston, the Two-Day Walk for Breast Cancer in Atlanta, and the Three-Day Breast Cancer Walk for the San Francisco Bay Area, benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is not just for nonprofits, either, as many businesses are joining the fight for a cure. One custom-made art and giftware company, Prissam, specially designed a crystal "survivor lightcatcher" and "supporter lightcatcher" each featuring the breast cancer ribbon, and will donate 20 percent of the sales to breast cancer research.

The cause is an important one, and is not limited to the month of October – the American Cancer Society estimates that 40,170 women will die of breast cancer in 2009 alone.