Almost everyone has been affected by breast cancer in some way—according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, there are over 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. alone, and aside from skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women.
With statistics as staggering as those, it’s no question why so many of us want to do our part to push breast cancer research forward, support patients, and elevate survivors’ stories, both in the month of October and year-round. Within the optical community, brands and ECPs are speaking up, too, through products, donations and other promotions which help the cause.
The McGee Group’s Vera Bradley has long been dedicated to the breast cancer awareness cause—Vera Bradley founders Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller began raising funds for breast cancer research in 1993 after the loss of their friend, Mary Sloan. Since then, they’ve formed the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, which has resulted in $32.5 million in contributions so far to support advancements in breast cancer research. The McGee Group supports the Vera Bradley Foundation through their Foundation Collection, which includes 56 eyewear styles.
For the fourth year running, Marcolin’s Guess partnered with the Get In Touch Foundation to create a Get In Touch capsule collection, which includes a sunglass and optical style featuring a Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon on the temple. Marcolin USA will make a donation to the Get In Touch Foundation to show their support for this initiative.
Hilco Vision has contributed more than $31,000 to the Breast Cancer Foundation with their “Think Pink” campaign. The Think Pink product line includes a Think Pink lens cleaner and patterned microfiber cleaning cloth in a vinyl storage pouch.
Alongside “Today Show” anchor Hoda Kotb, Dom Vetro created a special color-way in partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation. For every frame sold, Dom Vetro will donate a pair to women battling breast cancer.
ECPs are doing their part this October, too. Arbor EyeCare in Chicago switched their scrubs over to pink to show support, and the teams at all Henry Ford OptimEyes locations will raise funds for Game On Cancer all throughout October. Eyecare of Florence, in Florence, South Carolina, is promoting Stand Up to Cancer frames this month, and offering free “You’ll Never Walk Alone” T-shirts with purchase.
In Ontario, Canada, Empire Eyewear will donate a portion of their proceeds throughout October to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada. Other practices, like Bella Vision in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Gregor Eye Care in Overland Park, Kansas, shared messages of support online in honor of the month, too.