Think Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness Events in Cedar Falls

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there are tons of different ways to support the cause. Check out the list below of opportunities to go pink in Cedar Falls:

Sixth Annual Pink Ribbon Run:

Saturday, October 6th: Cedar Falls Community Main Street will sponsor the sixth annual "Pink Ribbon Run" downtown Cedar Falls beginning at 8 a.m.

The event is open to runners and walkers and will start and finish in front of the Cedar Falls Public Library.

All proceeds from the run will benefit the Northeast Iowa Community Foundation's Beyond Pink T.E.A.M.

Awards will be presented for various age groups as well as overall male and female winners.  Panera will provide pink ribbon bagels after the race, and there will be door prizes awarded from area businesses.

The cost to participate is $30, which includes an official Pink Ribbon Run t-shirt and a pair of Fox River Run Sox. Registration can be done online or via paper form. For more information call (319) 277-0213.  

Trek Breast Cancer Awareness Ride

Saturday, October 13th: This year's Trek Breast Cancer Awareness Ride will begin and end at Europa Cycle, 4302 University Ave.

There are two ride options - a 12 mile trail ride or a 26 mile road ride. Both start at 10 a.m. Helmets are required.

This is the fourth year that Europa Cycle has hosted this event and seventh year that Trek has organized the ride. The family-friendly ride is not for women only, because Breast Cancer affects us all.

The entry fee is $25 with 100 percent of the fee going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Registration will be done online via Active.com, or you may pre-register in person at Europa. The first 100 pre-registered riders will receive a goodie bag the morning of the ride. Orange Breast Cancer Awareness Ride T-shirts may be pre-ordered on the Active.com site when you register.

(*Note - We found that last year's shirts ran small as they were a women's cut. This year they will be a unisex cut, so shouldn't run small. You may order your typical t-shirt size.)  

There will also be door prizes and sweepstake prizes from Trek, as well as a grand prize from Farrell's Extreme Bodyshaping in Cedar Falls - a 10 week fitness and weight loss session for their January class - a $350 value.

National Events:

There are even more ways to spread breast cancer awareness this month by supporting national organizations that are fighting for a cure.

Research centers like Susan G. Komen for the Cure are selling pink ribbon merchandise and it’s a twofer — retail therapy and donating to a cause that affects millions.

You can also support breast cancer research by affixing a special stamp to your mail. The U.S. Postal Service has been selling a stamp commemorating breast cancer awareness for the past 15 years. The agency has raised $75 million so far for research programs at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.

The American Cancer Society’s annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk is organized nationwide and so far more than 8 million people have walked for this cause and raised about $460 million.

And you can join people from four continents in a Race for the Cure event organized by Susan G. Komen For The Cure, or an Avon Walk For Breast Cancer event organized by the Avon Foundation for Women.

TELL US: Is there a special event you participate in to support breast cancer research? Share your stories and thoughts with us by adding them to the comments sections of this article. Also, be sure to add photos of you and your friends supporting the cause to the photo gallery above.