The pink ribbon lapel pin has become a powerful symbol to increase awareness about breast cancer, and it's easy to make for yourself and your friends.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and throughout the year—people wear pink ribbons to honor survivors, remember those lost to the disease, and to support the progress we are making together to defeat breast cancer. In 2007, more than 178,000 women will learn they have breast cancer, and more than 40,000 will die from the disease.

We encourage you to wear a pink ribbon throughout the month of October and join us in the fight against breast cancer.

Follow the printable directions below to make your own pink ribbon lapel pin; no sewing required.
Finished size: 1½" by 5/8".

You will need:

• Three inches of pink ribbon, a quarter-inch wide.
• One small safety pin
• Needle and small length of pink thread (optional)

Options to attach to a lapel:

• The small safety pin used above
• Double stick tape

Directions:

1. Cut a three-inch length of ribbon, snipping both ends at an angle.
2. Lay the ribbon out horizontally with the shorter edge on top.
3. Hold down the ribbon's midpoint. Grasp the left end and fold so it points down and slightly across the midpoint. The fold can be a soft curve or a crisp line.
4. Fold the right end in the same way so the ribbon crosses itself about a half inch below the fold.
5. Where the ribbon crosses itself, use the small safety pin to hold the ribbon in place, concealing the pin behind the ribbon.
6. This same pin can be used to attach the ribbon to a collar or lapel. You'll need to remove the pin from the ribbon, saving the fold, then work from inside your shirt to pin on the folded pink ribbon.

Options: The ribbon can also be sewn together where it crosses by machine or by hand with a few stitches of pink thread. You can also use super strength glue to hold the ribbon together; then double stick tape or a safety pin can hold it to lapel.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Call your American Cancer Society anytime, day or night at 1-800-ACS-2345 for more information about breast cancer and to find out how you can join the fight against this disease.