Although many see October to be the month of spooks and haunts, October is also the month of pink-pride. October is the National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and mothers, aunts, sisters, grandmothers, and even sons, will join together to support the thousands of woman struggling with breast cancer.

Here in Miami, we take the opportunity to spread awareness for breast cancer by participating in the Susan G. Komen Miami/Fort Lauderdale Race for the Cure. We lace up our walking and running shoes, and walk 5K through Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. This year the walk will take place on October 18th, 2014.

“Yes I have participated in a breast cancer event. This year will be my third year walking in Susan G Komen Walk in Miami. I have two aunties that lost their life to breast cancer,” said Lakeshia Orr, a participator in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure walk.

While the event is used to spread awareness, it is also used to cheer on breast cancer survivors in the Survivor Procession Ceremony. Unfortunately, every year there is a new batch of women and men who have to face the stress of going through breast cancer.

In 2014, it is estimated that among U.S. women there will be 233,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and almost 40,000 breast cancer deaths. For U.S. men it is estimated that there will be 2,000 new cases and 400 deaths, according to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

The numbers are large, but because of the effort put in by researchers and countless donations that have contributed to improve breast cancer treatment and early detection, breast cancer mortality has decreased by 34 percent since 1990. Since 2004, the incidence of breast cancer has remained stable.

Around the world, rates of breast cancer are varying. In developing countries, such as Cambodia and Nepal, the rate of breast cancer is less than that of developed countries, like the U.S. and Australia. Still, there is a predicted 1.7 million new cases of breast cancer among women worldwide since 2012.

Many factors can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer. These factors range from alcohol consumption, to being overweight, to having a family history of cancer; however, there is no conclusive cause of breast cancer.

While only having a lump doesn’t mean you have breast cancer, it is important for both men and women to visit their doctor to see if there is a problem.

Breast Cancer invades a large chunk of women in the world, but this also comes with a huge support group for survivors.

“Some of my relatives that got breast cancer was a great aunt, my grandfather, sister, and my mother’s sister. I also have an aunt that is a three-year survivor of breast cancer. The only thing I will advise people that have family members that are battling breast cancer is to pray and be by that person’s side,” said Ms. Orr.

Last year, Miami spiced up Breast Cancer Awareness month by going pink. Police cars, buses, and even trucks celebrated the month by have a fresh coat of pink painted onto them.

Besides the walks, there are countless ways for people to help out this October. Try donating, or volunteering for events, maybe even supporting relatives that are going through breast cancer. Either way no one is alone when they have breast cancer.

Stay strong. Be happy. And live on with your pink pride.