Younger generations become
activists for cancer awareness
By Erinn Williams
Park. Along with the sea of various band
Special to the Michigan chronicle T-shirts, there was a large number of
politically and socially conscious apparel
he American Cancer Society
being worn amongst the crowd.
T
and Breast Cancer Founda-
Vans Warped Tour is funded by Vans
tion along with various other
Off the Wall but sponsored by large non-
organizations have done an
profit groups including PETA, Hollywood
extraordinary job promoting
Heart, and Keep-a-Breast.
the fight against cancer. These organiza-
tions have done this for numerous years
These organizations are creating ac-
with events like Relay for Life and the
tivism among younger generations by
Avon Walk for Cancer.
having their favorite bands do shout-outs
and sell merchandise that help nonprofit
Pink breast cancer ribbons can be
organizations. Breast and cancer aware-
found on shirts, lapels and cars; how-
ness was promoted heavily by the past
ever, the younger generation is taking its
Warped Tour. However, the awareness
own stance in the fight against cancer.
and activism this younger generation
Rock bands across America are starting
uses is quite different from pink ribbon
to find newer ways to spread the activ- lapel pins and magnets.
ism to their audiences.
This particular crowd, 18 to 25 years of
Vans Warped Tour 2009, a traveling age, has a more in-your-face show of ac-
concert of more than 40 rock and alter- tivism. The shirts being sold had screen-
native bands, recently came to Comerica printings such as “Cancer Blows.” These
Rob Dyer
shirts draw attention, and to see thousands of When a band donates a shirt design to SFAC, the
young people wearing them and supporting design becomes exclusive to SSE. They sell the
the fight is amazing. shirts and use the proceeds to help women fight-
ing breast cancer.
Some may argue that the sort of language
used on some shirts is not how one should
“Skate 4 Cancer” is an organization established
go about spreading awareness. But there are
by skater Rob Dyer, whose mission was to skate
those who note that if the younger genera-
across Canada and the United States to raise
tion is supporting the activism, then why stray
awareness of breast cancer. Dyer’s mother was
away from a mechanism that works? If this
diagnosed with breast cancer and he has been on
is the way the younger generation chooses
a mission to raise awareness.
to become socially conscious, it is something
“Donate your mind. Not your money,” said
that should be looked into further.
Dyer
“Shirts For a Cure” is a company funded He has banded with several other skaters and
by the Syrentha J. Savio Endowment (SSE) musicians to conduct an annual tour called “The
and was established by punk rock photographer Cure is Knowledge.” All events are for all ages and
Mark Beemer in 2002. SSE provides financial as- admission is free. The tour’s purpose is to educate
sistance to underprivileged women who cannot the youth of today with cancer prevention tools.
afford expensive breast cancer medicine and
“We may not raise enough money to change
therapy. “Shirts For a Cure” is the main producer
the world, but we may be able to raise enough
of the shirts.
people to change the world,” said Dyer.
The “Shirts For A Cure” project was launched Older people often criticize younger people
by SSE to give voice to the social concerns of for not being involved in the political process and
punk rock bands and their many fans as well as to other such things. However, they will participate,
raise awareness about breast cancer prevention. but in a way that is representative of who they are.
14 | Too young for Cancer • September/October 2009
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