Think Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness Events in Lakewood

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and whether you love to shop, attend events, walk or run, there are tons of different ways to support the cause. Check out the list below of opportunities to go pink in Lakewood and beyond:

• The Carol Milgard Breast Center is proud to the be the flagship sponsor of the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in the South Sound. This is a 5K walk (3.1 miles) in downtown Tacoma, beginning at Theatre Square Park. Fun activities kick off at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m.
• Next Thursday, the Puget Sound Affiliate for Susan G. Komen for the Cure will host Lunch for the Cure, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, 1500 Broadway, Tacoma.
• On Saturday, Oct. 20, the Frill Seeker Event at the Tacoma Nordstrom will provide women with scheduled appointments to be fit properly for bras. The Carol Milgard Breast Center will be providing education about its services and the importance of yearly screening mammograms to women attending the event

In addition to these Lakewood events, Washington residents will be participating in several events:

• On Sunday, King County residents will conduct their own Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event in Bellevue beginning at 9 a.m.
• On Sunday, if you're in Eastern Washington, there will be an all-day Zumba event at Northern Quest Casino & Resort in Spokane to benefit the Eastern Washington Affiliate for Susan G. Komen For The Cure.
• On Wednesday, Oct. 19, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance presents "Beats For Boobs," an event that will bring the very best in art, fashion, food & music to the iconic Belltown music venue, The Crocodile in Seattle.
• On Friday, Oct. 21, Derby Salon’s 5th Annual Beautify For Breast Cancer takes place in Seattle. The event will start at 6 p.m. at Wine World on 45th in the Wallingford neighborhood. The silent auction will end at 8 p.m. (you don’t have to be present to win) and a fabulous hair show starts at 7 p.m.
• On Thursday, Oct. 25, the Eastern Washington Affiliate for Susan G. Komen For The Cure will host a Laugh for the Cure event at Spokane's Lincoln Center.

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.