For the second year in a row, ABC News Goes Pink on October 1st, and if last year served to raise awareness about breast cancer, this year’s goal is to increase knowledge, including risk factors, screening options, treatment options and research.
On Wednesday, October 1st, ABC News will devote a full day of coverage on “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight with David Muir,” “Nightline,” ABCNEWS.com, ABC News Radio, ABC NewsNow, ABC NewsOne and Fusion, to empower and educate people with the facts about breast cancer. “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” will also air a report on Sunday, October 4. Additionally, ABC owned and affiliate stations throughout the country will participate in the campaign with special local programming including a report by ABC News’ Senior Medical Contributor Dr. Jennifer Ashton about women in minority and underserved communities who are at higher risk for breast cancer. This campaign also features ABC News’PINK PLEDGE, which is live on ABCNewsGoesPink.com. By taking the pledge individuals agree to fight fear with knowledge, inattention with action, encourage conversation, and protect their families from breast cancer. Celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez, and Brad Paisley have all lent their support to the Pink Pledge. Additionally, ABC News’ social team will be sending out daily factoids about breast cancer every day in the month of October (#GOPINK).
A breast cancer survivor herself, Robin Roberts encouraged co-anchor Amy Robach to undergo her first mammogram live on GMA, counselling that it would be worth it “if it saves one life.” No one imagined that, as a result of that mammogram, Amy would be diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, after undergoing treatment, Amy is cancer free. One year after the diagnosis, Amy visits Charleston, South Carolina for an emotional meeting with Deborah Greig, who is just one of a number of women across the country who found cancer and received treatment as a result of Amy’s reporting. This year, ABC News Goes Pink returns to not only educate our viewers with the facts but also to encourage them to take action based on those facts.
“Never has the call to action been more critical,” said James Goldston, ABC News president. ”Amy’s and Robin’s brave battles have inspired so many women across the country and we hope to arm our viewers’ and online audience with the knowledge to make informed decisions and also encourage conversation.”
ABC News Goes Pink Campaign:
Pink Pledge
Beginning today, viewers can take the PINK PLEDGE on ABCNewsGoesPink.com.
“I pledge to…
PREVENTION. Ask my doctor what steps I can take that could reduce my risk of breast cancer.
LEARNING. Arm myself with knowledge about my own risks.
EXAMINATION. With my doctor, find out when I should get screened for breast cancer and how often.
DENSITY. Have a conversation with my doctor to see if I have “dense” breasts, and which screening approach is right for me.
GENETICS. Discuss with my doctor my family history, both mom’s and dad’s side, of breast cancer, to see what it might mean for my level of risk.
EDUCATE. Once I’ve put these steps into action, “pay it forward” by encouraging friends and family to do it as well.
ABC News Goes Pink Day – Wednesday, October 1
The day kicks off on “Good Morning America” (7:00 – 9:00 am ET) as “GMA Goes Pink,” dedicating a large portion of the show to breast cancer information, including stories on screening protocols, prevention, and emotional healing. The program will feature Angelina Jolie’s doctor, Dr. Kristi Funk, who will talk about the latest medical advances and developments. There will also be a special Pink Deals and Steals with 15% of the proceeds going to breast cancer organizations. As GMA Goes Pink, so does Times Square, all to help American families touched by breast cancer. There will also be incredible surprises and a moving musical performance by Smokey Robinson and Aloe Blacc.
Celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr., Jessica Alba, Brad Paisley, Miley Cyrus, Luke Bryan, Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias, Gwen Stefani, Will.i.am and many others have all lent their voices to ABC News Goes Pink.
“World News Tonight with David Muir” (6:30 – 7:00 pm ET) joins supermodel Elizabeth Hurley and William Lauder, the chairman of the Estee Lauder company, as they light the Empire State building pink. The company has started a campaign to “start the conversation,” share the stories of women with breast cancer, and empower each other by listening. Estee Lauder has filmed families talking to each other about what it was like to hear their loved ones tell them their diagnosis. “World News Tonight” talks to some of the families featured in their campaign, families who can teach us all the importance of having The Conversation.
”Nightline” (12:35 – 1:00 am ET) will profile southern California plastic surgeons who perform the latest techniques in breast reconstruction surgery: the DIEP flap, another option for mastectomy patients. “Nightline” is in the OR with these surgeons for 15 hours as they perform this complicated surgery on a breast cancer patient and follows the patient and her recovery.
ABC News Radio will produce a one-hour special edition of the award-winning broadcast “Perspective,” which will provide knowledge families need to help detect and deal with breast cancer. They will also produce special tech features throughout the month looking at the role technology is playing in the early diagnosis of cancer and also a new app that helps patients track medical tests, submit information for clinical trials and access information customized to their conditions.
Fusion will also GO PINK. On “Alicia Menendez Tonight,” Alicia will talk to young people who have survived breast cancer and they will share their experiences. Alicia and anchor Jorge Ramos have also taken the Pink Pledge.
John R. Green is the Executive Producer in charge of ABC News Goes Pink. Morgan Zalkin is Senior Producer of GMA Goes Pink. Geralyn Lucas and Tomomi Arikawa, both breast cancer survivors, are the coordinating producers.