This month, people around the world show their support for cancer and breast cancer survivors by wearing pink (Pinktober) and yellow (Livestrong), and World Mental Health Day takes place October 10.
Pinktober
October 1-31
Hard Rock Cafes and Hotels worldwide
Pinktober 2010 is the 11th annual Hard Rock campaign for breast cancer awareness. Melissa Etheridge and other musicians worldwide will host events to support breast cancer charities that include concerts, showcases and fashion shows. There are also pink products (key chain, t-shirts, pins) for sale online and the hotels will turn down pink sheets with 25% of the room rate going to charity. http://www.hardrock.com/promo/pinktober10/
Livestrong Day
October 2
Worldwide
In acknowledgement of the day (October 2, 1996) celebrity athlete and cancer survivor/advocate Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer. Armstrong asks the world to come together to support the "28 million people living with cancer" and "renew our fight for a world without cancer - one community, one event and one conversation at a time." Presently there are 171 events scheduled in 24 nations. See what is happening near you or start your own.
http://www.livestrong.org/Take-Action/LIVESTRONG-Action/Livestrong-Day-2010
World Mental Health Day
October 10
Worldwide
The World Health Organization (WHO) and mental health advocates globally encourage greater awareness about mental, neurological and behavioral disorders, their prevention and therapies. Hundreds of millions of people suffer from depression and other disorders that lead to "social isolation, poor quality of life and higher death rates."
http://www.wfmh.org/2010world_mental_health_day.htm
World Sight Day
October 14
Worldwide
Over "670 million people" worldwide are blind or vision-impaired due to lack of "access to eye exams and glasses" according to Optometry Giving Sight, an organization that supports the World Sight Day Challenge. The annual day devoted to sight awareness is focused this year on "Vision 2020: The Right to Sight," a global effort to prevent blindness created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
http://www.vision2020.org/main.cfm?type=WSD2010&objectid=3809
Global Handwashing Day 2010
October 15
Worldwide
This year's event focuses on educating children to promote handwashing in 80 nations worldwide since "poor hygiene and lack of access to sanitation together contribute to about 88% of deaths from diarrheal diseases, accounting for 1.5 million diarrhea-related under-five deaths each year." http://www.globalhandwashingday.org
Men's Health World Congress 2010
October 28-30
Acropolis Palais des Congres et des Expositions, Nice, France
The seventh annual multidisciplinary scientific congress for health professionals is devoted to advancing men's health with a focus on therapies, tools and new research in urology, cardiology, endocrinology, oncology, sexual medicine, mental health, primary care, public policy, education and aging. Registration ranges from €250-600.
http://www.ismh.org/en/
World Diabetes Day (WDD)
November 14
Worldwide
WDD, created by The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization in 1991, takes place annually to bring greater awareness to diabetes and its control. http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/
World Toilet Day
November 19
Worldwide
World Toilet Day is an international public health awareness day focusing on sanitation and the importance of healthy toilet habits and illnesses associated with poor facilities. http://www.worldtoilet.org/
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