Most people’s lives have been touched in some way by breast cancer.

In the United States, breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women, according to the National Cancer Institute. Every year, a small number of men are diagnosed with or die from breast cancer, too, according to the NCI.

Whether you have been diagnosed with this disease yourself, have watched a family member or friend fight it or simply want to do your part to help, here are some ways you can make a difference in the battle against breast cancer locally. We asked hospital networks and cancer-related organizations in the Dayton area, Springfield area and northern Cincinnati to share some of the many ways you can support the cause. Here is a sampling of ideas on ways to give back.

1. Donate to local programs

• Donate to Kettering Medical Center Foundation’s Women’s Wellness Fund, which provides mammograms and other services at no cost to uninsured and underserved individuals in the Dayton area. For more information, go to www.kmcfoundation.org.
• Give to the Greene Medical Foundation’s Circle of Victory Fund, which provides treatment expense support to eligible Greene County residents. For more information, call (937) 352-2250.

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  Contribute to the Hecht Family Cancer Fund through the Grandview Foundation, which supports an oncology clinic where chemotherapies and infusions are administered to low-income patients. The fund supports people with cancers of all types, and currently, it is helping a breast cancer patient by paying her monthly medication costs. For more information on how to donate, go to www.grandviewfoundation.org.

• Miami Valley Hospital offers the Breast Cancer Program Fund, Help Her Fight Fund and Genetic Counseling Fund. Donations can be made to the Miami Valley Hospital Foundation, 31 Wyoming St., Dayton, Ohio 45409, or at mvhfoundation.org. To learn more about each individual fund, call 937-208-2700.
• The Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation – Dayton administers five breast cancer funds in support of Good Samaritan Hospital: Breast Cancer Patient Gap Funding; Breast Cancer Support Group Fund; High Risk Breast Cancer Program Fund; Samaritan Breast Center Digital Imaging Tools Fund; and Samaritan Breast Center Fund. Gifts may be made to: 2222 Philadelphia Drive, 2200 Building, Suite 500, Dayton, Ohio 45406; 937-734-GIVE (4483); or GSHFoundationDayton.org.
• Premier Community Health offers free mammograms and other breast-related services to women who have no health insurance and are low-income. To make a donation, go to www.premiercommunityhealth.org. Donations also can be mailed to Premier Community Health, 23 Jasper St., Dayton, Ohio 45409.
• The Middletown Area Federation of Women’s Clubs has a Women’s Health and Wellness Endowment that provides funds to support women’s health services. To make a donation, contact Atrium Medical Center Foundation at 513-420-5144, or go to www.AtriumMedCenter.org/donate.

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  Send donations for the Breast Cancer Task Force of the Greater Miami Valley to: Breast Cancer Task Force of the Greater Miami Valley, P.O. Box 0233, Dayton, Ohio 45409-0233. Donations go toward the group’s efforts to educate the community about breast cancer.

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  Donate to the Breast Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization that offers affordable mammography services, as well as educational services. Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 751982, Dayton, Ohio 45475.

2. Buy products that support cause

• The gift shops at all hospitals in the Kettering Health Network are selling “pink” items, with contributions going toward Susan G. Komen for the Cure or the Women’s Wellness Fund. Call your local Kettering Health Network hospital for gift shop hours.
• Miami Valley Hospital’s gift shop is selling merchandise in October that supports breast cancer research. For more information, call 937-208-2705.
• Good Samaritan Hospital’s gift shop features many breast cancer awareness products made by companies that donate a portion of their proceeds to breast cancer research. For more information, call 937-734-1390.

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  Now through Wednesday, Oct. 31, Panera Bread will donate 10 cents of the proceeds from each Pink Ribbon Bagel sold to support the American Cancer Society of Southwest Ohio. Go to www.panera-ohio.com for more information.

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  Kohl’s will donate 100 percent of the net profit from the sale of cause merchandise items, including the Kohl’s Cares® ELLE™ Polka-Dot Umbrella, Kohl’s Cares® ELLE™ Heart Thermal Travel Mug and Kohl’s Cares® ELLE™ Eiffel Tower Cosmetic Bag, to support organizations fighting against breast cancer. All items are $5 or $10 each and can be purchased online and in stores. Go to kohls.com for more information.

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  This October, LOFT launched the “Live In Pink” campaign, which features a signature pink capsule collection. This collection includes a statement necklace designed by Giuliana Rancic, anchor of E! News and breast cancer survivor. The capsule collection also includes a dress, skirt, blouse, flats, scarf, earrings and graphic tee. Twenty-five percent of the full-price purchase of each item will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. For more information, go to LOFT.com.

3. Volunteer

• Breast cancer survivors may sign up to mentor those diagnosed with breast cancer through Moving Forward hand-in-hand, a survivor program. Call Kettering Medical Center cancer services at 937-395-8115 for more information.
• Volunteer to help with the Circle of Victory Cancer Awareness Walk in October. Call the Greene Medical Foundation at 937-352-2250 for more information.
• Several of the volunteer opportunities available through Atrium Medical Center support the center’s cancer program. Information about volunteer services and an application are available online at www.AtriumMedCenter.org/volunteer.
• All members of the Breast Cancer Task Force of the Greater Miami Valley are volunteers, and membership is free. The BCTF meets 8:30 a.m. the third Tuesday of the month at Drew Health Center, 1323 W. Third St., Dayton. For more information, go to www.breastcancertf.org.

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  The Breast Cancer Foundation has several volunteer opportunities. To discuss opportunities, call 937-674-3450 or email admin@breastcancerfdn.org.

4. Educate yourself.

• The Women’s Wellness Fund provides education on breast cancer and other women’s health issues through the Cindy Wilde Vogel Library at the Kettering Breast Evaluation Center. Call 937-395-8115 for more information.
• Breast cancer patients, their families and friends may join Still Me of the Greater Dayton Area, which offers information, education and self-help meetings. The group meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Miami Valley Hospital. Contact Nancy Thoma at 937-208-2743 for more information.
• Look Good…Feel Better is a group program, facilitated by a cosmetologist who teaches women how to cope with skin changes and hair loss. The group meets quarterly at Miami Valley Hospital. For more information, call the American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345.
• Atrium Medical Center maintains two cancer resource centers — one on the first floor of the Compton Center (attached to Atrium Medical Center) and one specific to breast cancer in the Women’s Center. These centers are open to the public during standard business hours. 
• Premier Community Health offers free lectures about breast health to any group in the community. Call 937-227-9400 to book your date.

5. Participate in local events.

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  Lunch-N-Learn Series presented by Good Samaritan Hospital will host Think Pink … Winning the Battle Against Breast Cancer at noon Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Huber Heights Senior Center, 6428 Chambersburg Road. Join Dr. Thomas Heck, co-medical director for Samaritan Breast Center, as he discusses early detection, new treatments and the role of genetic testing in the battle against breast cancer. Reservations are required. This a free event which includes a complimentary lunch. RSVP by calling 937-233-9999.This event also will be held at noon Monday, Oct. 29, at Lewisburg United Methodist Church, 3147 US Route 40. RSVP by calling 1-888-265-8833.

• The Ribbon of Hope Luncheon will take place Thursday, Oct. 11, at Sinclair Community College. The lunch will begin at 11:45 a.m. Individual tickets cost $50 each. For more information, contact Wanda Willis at 937-395-8607, or go to www.kmcfoundation.org.
• Good Samaritan North Health Center and the Samaritan Breast Center are celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and encouraging women to get mammograms with “Brake for Breakfast,” 6 to 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in the parking lot next to Good Samaritan North Health Center, 8900 N. Main St., Englewood. A team of volunteers will be on hand to pass out information about breast health and a free breakfast to go. For more information, go to GoodSamDayton.org.

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  Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Springfield will take place Saturday, Oct. 13, at Springfield Regional Cancer Center, 148 West North St., Springfield. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. The walk will start at 9 a.m. For more information, go to www.makingstrideswalk.org/springfield.

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  The Greene Medical Foundation’s Circle of Victory Cancer Awareness Walk will take place Sunday, Oct. 14, at Greene Memorial Hospital . Registration will begin at 12:30 p.m., and the walk will start at 2 p.m. Call the Greene Medical Foundation at 937-352-2250, or go to the Circle of Victory Cancer Awareness Walk Facebook page for more information.

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  The Jewish Hospital – Mercy Health will educate the public and encourage women to get mammograms with a drive-up “Brake for Breakfast” event 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, across the street from the hospital on 4750 E. Galbraith Road near the Kenwood Road intersection in Cincinnati. Women who drive through the event will receive a free breakfast to go and health information. For more information, call 513-686-3312.

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  Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Dayton will be held Saturday, Oct. 20, at Dayton Dragons’ Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson Blvd., Dayton. Registration and a rolling start will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. For more information, go to www.makingstrideswalk.org/dayton.

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  The one-mile Walk with P. Buckley Moss, in support of the Pals for Life Breast Cancer Support Group and the Dale Bowman Memorial Scholarship Fund, will take place 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Canada Goose Gallery, 97 South Main St., Waynesville. For more information, call Canada Goose Gallery at 513-897-4348.

• The Breast Cancer Awareness Celebration of Life will take place 6:30 to 10 p. m. Friday, Oct. 26, at Bethesda Temple Apostolic Church, 3701 Salem Ave. A $3 donation is required, which will support the African American Wellness Walk. The event will include free health screenings and health information about breast cancer prevention. This event is sponsored by Miami Valley Hospital’s Mahogany’s Child Program and Sisters Supporting Sisters African American Breast Cancer Support Group. Call 937-208-5191 for more details.

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Sources: Kettering Health Network; Premier Health Partners: Miami Valley Hospital; Premier Health Partners: Good Samaritan Hospital; Premier Health Partners: Premier Community Health; Community Mercy Health Partners; Premier Health Partners: Atrium Medical Center; Mercy Health; Breast Cancer Task Force of the Greater Miami Valley; Canada Goose Gallery; Breast Cancer Foundation; American Cancer Society