I was really irritated by Race For Life yesterday.

[EleanorHandbasket]

I did it, along with other members of my family, including myAunt who has terminal liver cancer (she started and finished with us but sat out the bulk of it). We ambled round, we weren't in it for the running (I could have done but not my Mum).

It was a very emotional and wonderful day, and Cancer Research do amazing things.

But it was all so PINK. And there was Zumba-esque warm ups, and they called us all 'girls' or 'ladies', and there were half naked men to tittilate us during the Zumba bit and it was just all so bloody GIRLY and patronising.

It's me, isn't it? I'm becoming a professionally offended type.

I just found it unnecessary.

[JessicaBeatriceFletcher]

I agree with you. Am sure some will be along to say how appalling we are for being even remotely critical of such a fabulous event in aid of such an excellent cause (which is it).

[badblueeyeliner]

I agree.

[runawaysimba]

The amazing Lisa Lynch in it: alrighttit.blogspot.co.nz/2009/10/problem-with-pink.html?m=1

[SteamPink]

YANBU

[CartwrightMiss]

It was a very emotional and wonderful day, and Cancer Research do amazing things.

Isn't that enough?

Yes maybe it was ott, and patronising but life is too short to stress over things like that.

You had a good day, spent time with family and raised money for a good cause.

[lottiegarbanzo]

Well you're right, as a matter of taste of course but they know what works in marketing and promotion terms, which ensures the greatest possible amount of money is made, which is what counts.

[howiwonder]

agree whole heartedly, the pink fluffiness of it all seems to be increasing year on year

[iccarus]

I agree, its almost like men never lose family members or die of cancer

[Trills]

The pinky girlyness is part of their advertising strategy.

You don't like it, and I wouldn't like it, but it gets the attention and gets people involved and gets sponsorship.

YANBU to be irritated, it is irritating. But it is a little bit understandable why they have chosen the path of irritatingness.

[thebody]

I wish there was a similar event for men to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

[BIWI]

There are charity events for prostate cancer though - Movember being one of them.

[JessicaBeatriceFletcher]

BIWI - I have a positive hatred of Movember. I think it is fatuous. The Race for Life raises awareness AND funds. Movember raises awareness perhaps but I think as a fundraising event it's laughable. The first year it happened someone asked me to sponsor them for growing a moustache. Ridiculous.

[JessicaBeatriceFletcher]

Altinkum - and the half naked men....???

[aleene]

Their radio advert had a bit that said 'Watch out Cancer, we're coming to get you'. For some reason I found it offensive and had to turn the radio off before I had to hear that line.

[CarpeVinum]

No half naked men when I did it. Thankfully.

Pink does not worry me. I ran with my PhD in a sci. ology sister, who has exisited in a pink cloud of fluffiness since she was first able to express an opinion. We shared a room. It was like fairies puked spakles and pink in there. She still manages to command respect and awe in her high powered academic envirment job despite the "handicap" caused by a profound love of all things hyper girlie. It's who she is and who she is, is more than good enough.

It was a good day. I'm glad I flew over for it. I was able to do something, anything to remember my firend who died so very young and while I didn't make peace with her death as such, it helped me stop feeling quite so powerless and useless. The medal hangs in my kitchen which means I remember my firend, I remember running with my (offensively pink) sister and crying with disbelief and emotion as I actually managed to finish.

I'd like to do again in the not too distant future. But would prefer no half naked men. I don't feel the need to emulate the less attractive excesses of men and call it equality.

[landofsoapandglory]

Isn't it supposed to be a pink, girlie charity day? I couldn't get irritated by something that raises so much money for such a great cause, TBH, half naked men or not!

[Birdsgottafly]

I agree about the marketing concept, it was orginally promoted as a "fun day out with your mates" type event, designed to get as many people involved and groups of women got together to take part.

It got people talking about female cancers and asking why the death rate was so high.

I agree that a pole should be done to ask those taking part what they want, but if people are happy with it as it stands then it shouldn't be changed. Some of it is OTT>

I don't have a problem with "Pink", i think that we should re-claim and modernise it.

The lack of research and the way that women's health issues used to be funded and implemented was a massive feminist, i am in my 40's and can remember the on-going scandals that were revealed around this subject. That is why seperate campaigns specifically aimed at and about women came into being.

I think that the history is overlooked sometimes, when this subject is debated. All health/awareness campaigns have their own colour and theme.

[CartwrightMiss]

jessica

In 2012, over 1.1 million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas around the world got on board, raising GBP 88.2 million to date

Hardly just raising awareness.

[BIWI]

Jessica - you contradict yourself though! If people are asking you to sponsor them, then they are raising money!

I don't particularly support Movember, by the way, I was just pointing out that there are specific fund-raising activities for prostate cancer.

[MrsHowardRoark]

Jessica - my DP and I raised over £1500 for Movember. He works in a male dominated field and it is a very successful campaign that raises money as well as awareness. His company alone raised over £20000.

It may be gimmicky but it works. Each to their own eh?

[Birdsgottafly]

"fenminist issue", that should read.

[LoveBeingUpAt4InTheMorning]

Yabu - that is all of the package, you could choose another route to show your support, you choose to attend this one.

[GetOrfMoiLand]

I'm sorry about your aunt, that must be bloody hard.

But I agree. You had me had Zumba and Ladies. It is a good cause but it makes me cringe. That advert with the woman who sounds like Jane Horrocks is just as bad.