How to Make a Difference in the Fight against Cancer without Participating in an Event

Every October, I feel conflicted. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I want to make a difference. I especially like to do something in honor of my mom, who’s a breast cancer survivor. Members of my family and I have done Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure events. Those have been very special, but in the last couple of years there have been questions about where exactly the funds to Susan G. Komen go. And I’m never comfortable doing fundraising in the first place.

So this year, we’re doing something different. I like the idea of making a difference in the fight against cancer without participating in an event.

Note: Even though females and the breast cancer symbol are in the image, the ideas in this post are for males and females and for any type of cancer (and many types of charities).

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Earn Money for Charities with Charity Miles

I LOVE the free Charity Miles App! With it, you can be a “sponsored athlete” and earn money for the charity of your choice simply by walking, running, or bicycling. Bikers earn up to 10¢ per mile. Walkers and runners earn up to 25¢ per mile. This can be a great family project. A number of my family members use the app. My husband and I like to take a mall walk or outdoor walk of about 2 miles a day. I love that I can use Charity Miles to track my walks indoors or outdoors.

The money earned is all courtesy of corporate sponsors. You can read more about where the money comes from. My Charity Miles have typically been sponsored by Humana, Johnson & Johnson, and Timex.

There are many great non-profit organizations you can choose from to receive the money you earn. In October, I like to focus especially on the fight against cancer with an organization like Stand Up To Cancer.  If you’d prefer to focus on children’s cancers, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is one of the charities listed.

If you’re wondering about your children using the app on their own, here’s what the Charity Miles privacy policy says about children:

“The Application is a general audience application and we do not knowingly collect any Personal Information from children younger than the age of thirteen (13).  We will delete any Personal Information collected that we later determine to be from a user younger than the age of thirteen (13).  If you are a parent or guardian of a child under the age of thirteen (13) and believe he or she has disclosed Personal Information to us, please contact us at: [email protected]”

I have more information about Charity Miles in my post “Make a Difference by Walking with Charity Miles App.”

Find a Local or Online Volunteering Opportunity

There are online sites (such as Volunteer Match or Create the Good) that help bring together volunteers with organizations that need them. You’ll find opportunities locally or from home. Check out these “13 Websites That Will Match You With The Perfect Opportunity To Make A Difference.”

Donate to the Organization of Your Choice

I’ve started checking out sites like Charity Watch for top-rated charities in a variety of categories. If you’re using the Charity Miles app, you’ll be interested to know that Stand Up to Cancer is one of the top-rated cancer charities.

Make a Difference in the Life of One Person

Create a gift for someone you know with breast cancer … or for a breast cancer survivor.

I have a post called “Make a ’10 Things I Love About You’ Book {Free Printable}.” Your child could  also make a special card, photo album, or scrapbook to support someone with cancer.

I hope you have a special way to make a difference in the fight against cancer this October (and throughout the year). Whether it’s through a special event or from your own home, whatever you can do is important.

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