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Breast Cancer is Hard, Walking Isn't.
Weekend to End Breast Cancer
Slogan Misses the Mark
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There's an annual event in Canada called The Weekend to End Breast Cancer, that takes place in Ottawa,
Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. It's a fundraiser that recruits people to participate in a
2 day walk-a-thon, bringing sponsorship dollars to a number of organizations. The event's 2009 advertising and
publicity campaign slogan is "Breast Cancer is Hard. Walking Isn't"
Only half of that slogan is true, and that's why this website was born.
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PURPOSES OF THIS WEBSITE
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Raise awareness for organizations involved in
advocating for people with walking impairment, by recognizing their efforts to promote understanding, equality
and opportunity.
One more voice can't hurt. |
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Gain the attention of the supporters of "The
Weekend to End Breast Cancer", to make them aware of the insensitivity of the 2009 marketing campaign.
Given a 2nd chance, people can do the right thing. |
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To encourage Canadians to give to organizations,
and participate in events that support people with physical disabilities.
Look around. You know someone who needs the support. |
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To provide information about alternate organizations
that breast cancer survivors and supporters can become involved with.
There are some wonderful organizations who are just as earnest, but a little quieter about what they do. They need
your support. Seek them out. |
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You can start right now
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Choose your cause. Choose
your gift.
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Attend an event.
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Volunteer for an organization.
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Educate yourself about accessibility
issues.
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Donate your pop tabs to buy
wheelchairs.
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Buy a product that supports
people with disabilities.
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For millions of Canadians, walking IS hard. For many, it's a daily struggle that profoundly affects
their quality of life. For some, being able to stand up and take even one step is a dream they hope to realize
one day.
The movement to build equality, understanding, opportunity and rights for people with disabilities has been a long
haul for many dedicated people. Clearly, there's still work to be done. In one great big pink national advertising
campaign, the misguided marketing machine behind the Weekend to End Breast Cancer has proven it.
If you're unsure about that, try putting the shoe on the other foot;
Walking is Hard, Breast Cancer Isn't.
It's offensive.
The "Breast Cancer is Hard. Walking Isn't" campaign has been endorsed by some of the most revered health
institutions in Canada. Their doctors and nurses treat people every day who will likely never walk again. They
look after people who will need months or years of intense rehabilitation in order to walk again. I find it astounding
that someone, somewhere along the way didn't find the slogan insensitive enough to send the marketing machine back
to the drawing board.
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FEATURING ...
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Updated August 2009
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ALBERTA
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Meet Dale Ohler
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ONTARIO
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| Brantford's Participation House needs a new wheelchair van. Their old vehicle has been
regularly breaking down. |
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BRITISH COLUMBIA
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Look at these creative works!
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MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
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Freedoms Wings
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| Physically disabled people have the opportunity to
fly a sailplane. Operating in Toronto, Ottawa. Calgary, Edmonton, Vernon & Vancouver. How cool is that?! |
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How many Canadians have had their mobility
affected by spinal cord injury, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, stroke, blindness, amputation, cerebral palsy, muscular
dystrophy or lupus? Tens of thousands. Surely, I am not alone in thinking that "Breast cancer is hard. Walking
isn't." misses the mark.
You
might disagree, and that's okay. The Walking is Hard campaign isn't about taking sides between breast cancer and
people with walking disabilities. It's about supporting people who struggle with either, or both. It's about awareness
and fairness. We're all hoping for miracles.
To that end, if you were planning to support "The Weekend to End Breast Cancer" and have changed your
view, there are alternatives and you can find them here, on this website.
Disability can happen to any one, any time. Accidents and illnesses don't discriminate. Please learn, support and
if you can, also give to the causes that support people with physical disabilities. Follow the links above to find
out how you can do that, right now.
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More about the Weekend to End Breast Cancer
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| There is no despair so absolute as that which
comes with the first moments of our first great sorrow, when we have not yet known what it is to have suffered
and be healed, to have despaired and have recovered hope.
George Eliot |
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