Welcome-A-Cure With The Pink Ribbon Welcome Mat Project + Giveaway

Momma Told Me: Cancer sucks.

In general, I have very strong, negative, feelings about the commercialization of cancer causes in general. Few forms of cancer seem to be as exploited as Breast Cancer, a disease which took nearly 40,000 lives last year, alone. As the daughter of a Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor, some of my very first memories are of my mother and the transition she underwent from diagnosis to recovery. At the time the number of cases which had reached her progression, and went on to survival were counted on a hand. I did not live through her ordeal, I was but a bystander who stood witness. I have since used these images as motivation and inspiration daily in every moment since.

Cancer, as a whole, is a vicious, un-yielding, faceless enemy. It does not have the form of bone marrow, breasts, the prostate, or a rainbow of ribbons. It is darkness, uncaring of your age, your race, or how many people do or do not love you dearly. It does not care how rich you are, how healthy a lifestyle you have lived, how old your children are, or what you have yet to accomplish, it will attempt to steal all of that without a second thought. Yes, I have been touched by cancer; I have felt it's impact all around me, as so many of us have; but I do not buy into ribbons and months. Do you take the time to realize how much of what you spend on trinkets and baubles with ribbons actually goes to the cause, or even finding a cure?

Is shaving your head in solidarity of a friend a show of support, or a reminder of their own struggles and loss? Perhaps you should ask them first. When you get that trendy ribbon tattoo on your ankle stop to think whose story you will be telling when strangers ask about your struggle. And when you post your bra colors, or go topless for 'Breast Cancer Awareness,' are you doing it to get attention, or to flaunt the one thing so many women who have survived have lost? Cancer is an enemy, but are so many of our soldiers lost in the sparkle of the war?

Every year I am approached by countless companies and asked if I will write about their Pink Ribbon product. I typically delete them all. Any research into the fine print usually reveals a less than 1% return of proceeds to any actual cause. Further frustrating, the fundraising efforts 'from products sold' ends at the end of October. Does cancer have an off season? It most certainly dos not. If you've been touched by a particular form of cancer, please, do support it's cause through education and awareness. No one form of cancer is identical, and each deserves a cure. But, remember, when you're reaching for those ribbon clad accessories, to double check where your 'support' is going.

This year, I decided I would support the cause of Welcome-A-Cure mats, but Carpet One, for their 10 years of dedication to breast cancer research and fundraising. They were taking donations before it was cool, before every product on the shelf in October had a darn pink ribbon. A generous 25% of the proceeds from each of this year's 12 mat design's sales will go directly into research for the fight against Breast Cancer, and they won't stop until every mat is sold. You can find yours as a perfect reminder, or gift, online at the Carpet One website or in their nationwide stores, today. If you prefer to support the fight against cancer in a direct manner, you can donate directly to the Susan G Komen foundation or Cancer Sucks-Cookie For Kids Cancer.

What Daughter Says: Whether there's a ribbon attached or not, we all need to support every form of cancer awareness and research, every month of the year.

One Momma Told Me reader will win a Welcome-A-Cure Mat, from Carpet One of their choice OR equal value donation to their cancer cause of choice.
Welcome A Cure