Fiona Teams With Cincy Shirts to Fight Breast Cancer

Fiona wants YOU to help save the melons! In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2022, Fiona and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden are teaming up with Real Men Wear Pink and Cincy Shirts to help raise money for this ongoing fight. 

Tucker, Fiona's half brother, does his part to save the melons

History of The American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society was founded in 1913 by 10 physicians and five lay people in New York City. It was originally called the American Society for the Control of Cancer (ASCC). Back then, a cancer diagnosis meant near-certain death. Rarely mentioned in public, the disease was steeped in fear and denial and not well understood by many, even in the medical profession. Doctors sometimes did not tell their patients they had cancer, and patients often did not tell friends or family that they had been diagnosed with the disease.

Times have changed, of course, and the fight against cancer continues in the 21st century as new discoveries and treatments have greatly improved outcomes. The war hasn’t been won yet, though, as cancer is still the second leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease.

The First Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The most common type of cancer is breast cancer, with 290,560 new cases expected in the United States in 2022. To highlight the impact of breast cancer, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was established in 1985, with October designated as the month to observe. It all started as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries. Former First Lady Betty Ford, who had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer, helped kick off the week-long event. Her involvement helped bring even more attention to the fight against breast cancer.

This was when the first organized movement to bring attention to the dangers of breast cancer occurred in the United States. Since then, campaigns to educate the public about this disease have continued to thrive and multiply, as has public awareness.  

The pink ribbon

In 1992, Estée Lauder Cosmetics spearheaded the first nation-wide campaign that utilized the pink ribbon. The company handed out 1.5 million pink ribbons and ushered it in as the premier icon of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Other partners in the fight

The NFL has since become one of the largest supporters of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and nearly all players, coaches, and referees don the pink ribbon each October to show their support. Many NFL teams add pink to their uniforms and team logos during the month of October.

As the American Cancer Society leads the breast cancer fight in the 21st century, they are engaging community leaders, media organizations, and influencers to help eliminate breast cancer through the nationwide Real Men Pink campaign.

Every dollar raised helps the American Cancer Society save lives from breast cancer. Money goes towards the funding of innovative breast cancer research, providing education and guidance to help people reduce their risk, and offering comprehensive patient support to those who need it most so no one faces the battle alone.

Zoo director Thane Maynard chats with Cincy Shirts co-owner Darin Overholser

This year, Fiona, a hippo that knows a lot about adversity, is teaming up with Real Men Wear Pink and Cincy Shirts to help raise money for The American Cancer Society. A portion of proceeds from each Fiona, Save the Melons T-shirt sold will benefit both the Zoo and the American Cancer Society. These funds will be spent locally on research,  patient care, and related services for breast cancer, as well as initiatives for the care of the Zoo’s collection of wildlife and fauna.