benefit Komen for the Cure.
For the past seven years, local bicycle component manufacturer Chris King has partnered with Komen for the Cure on a line of special edition products called “Pretty and Strong“.
This year, the partnership has expanded to include the photography of PDXCross and the creation of a calendar they hope will raise awareness of breast cancer.
Chris King’s Chris Distefano said the impetus came when Komen for the Cure informed them that not only does our region have one of the highest rates of breast cancer detection in the country but that it’s precisely the demographic of women cyclocross racers who are not being tested enough.
The calendar features the stunning photography of PDXCross along with tips about breast cancer and reminders on getting tested regularly.
One of the most striking images in the calendar is a large field of smiling women racers a graphic that reads: “12 Women in this photo will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives.”
You can buy the calendar (and all proceeds go to Oregon and SW Washington chapters of Komen for the Cure) on Chris King’s website for $15.
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As a fan of cycling and breasts, I commend Chris King for his parts and philanthropy.
fuck cancer.
In general, I’m not a big fan of this sort of “awareness” campaign. But there is one thing this particular event could do: spread the word that one of the very few ways to reduce lifetime risk of breast cancer is to be physically active as a child and young adult.
So it would be very helpful if this event sends the message to teen girls that the best thing they can do to reduce their personal risk of breast cancer (and osteoporosis and many other health problems) is to get on a bike and RIDE!
Here’s just one of the many studies on the issue:
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/336/18/1269
Maybe next year, they’ll repeat the “12 women in this photo…” for January, and then show 12 local, “Pretty and Strong” survivors who are racers, charity riders and “women about the community” who have actually beaten the disease.
Komen is a sham. The “cure” is early detection (GE mamogram machines) and aggressive treatment (big pharma). Guess who serves on their board? That is why they largely ignore the larger question of WHY breast cancer is so much more prevalent now (maybe because companies like GE are among the biggest polluters). Total BS PINKWASHING. Support the Breast Cancer Fund if you actually want to spend your money on identifying the causes.
Counting several breast cancer victims/survivors among my friends and family, I know it’s a delicate topic, but after reading Helen Cordes’ recent posts on the Huffington Post, I have the same reservations as Ethan about Komen and all the “pink marketing”…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/helen-cordes/rethink-pink-now-sane-sol_b_329489.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/helen-cordes/rethink-pink-now-saner-so_b_329496.html