Breast Cancer Advice Center

It's my engagement party soon and I was wondering if it's inappropriate to sell Breast Cancer awareness stuff?

I am a supporter of the Pink Ribbon campaign that helps make people aware of breast cancer and raises money for vital research. It's my engagement party in a few weeks and I was thinking of selling merchandise there. Not walking around shoving it in people's faces, more so just having a little tray of stuff (eg. pens, badges, magnets etc...) for people to buy if they choose to. Do you think this is inappropriate? I guess also I wanted to point out that the Pink Ribbon foundation is non for profit and is the largest breast cancer awareness and funding organisation in Australia. Just also wanted to point out that a number of my family members and my Fiance's family members have been touched by Breast Cancer - knowing someone who has been diagnosed or someone who themselves has been diagnosed for it. The 'box' of merchandise is no bigger then an A4 piece of paper and would probably sit where the Coffee is being made. My engagement party is very informat - it's at the local footy club and is in the form of an afternoon tea. As I stated in the original question, no one would be asked/pestered or even encouraged to buy anything - it will be there if they want to and hey, if I don't sell anything, I just send it back with what I have already sold by just having the box here in my home. It's amazing how much you sell when you have firneds over for Coffee! lol. The other thing is that I don't make any money ouf of this (obviously!).

Public Comments

1. I am Australian so i know what pink ribbon is............ And by the amount of support breast cancer awareness has right now (with all companies support it for example dove cosmetics) i think your idea is great!!! The more money you raise the better, people will respect your decision for having it there and will understand the seriousness of breast cancer research. You will probably be surprised just how many people donate. My Mum past away sept 7 this year after a 4 month battle with kidney cancer at her funeral we had a anti cancer council donation box and the amount of money we raised was fantastic. Everybody is touch and affected by cancer, people will not be offended or feel its inapproprate by having a pink ribbon box... and if they do there NOT worth inviting!!!!!!! congrats on your engagement. xx
2. I don't think it's inappropriate and if I went to an engagement party with that there, I would not see it in a bad way at all. Most engagement parties are not very formal and are more of a celebration of a soon to be marriage- and you are obviously passionate about the breast cancer awareness foundations so I say it's a great thing to have at your celebration. As long as you don't make it a huge deal and make guests feel as if they must purchase something then I say have it there.
   Congratulations!
3. i do not see this as being inappropriate at all, most of the people there will know that it is a charity that you support, if i went to any type of party and there were pink ribbon etc there to buy i certainly would not object.
   
   congratulations anyway!
   good luck in the fund raising !
4. Although you are supporting a great cause, it's still a little tacky.You wouldn't use an engagement part to sell tupperware would you? The party is a celebration of the love of you and your fiancee.
   
   When you have your bridal shower, try these ideas.
   
   Inform invitees that in lieu of shower gifts donations could be made to The Susan G Komen foundation or another group doing research in the fight against breast cancer.
   
   Have small party bags,prize bags if you're playing games, and include some of the pink ribbon items as presents/prizes.
5. I think this is a great idea. My mother in law and my best friend are survivors of breast cancer. Unfortunately a friend of the family died and left three beautiful children. I know if my family and friends were at your engagement party, you would sell out of the merchandise.
   
   CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
   
   Jeanette xx
6. I'm very proud of you, please keep up the good work. Its not inappropriate for you to try to help! And if anyone says anything ignore it. Congratulations!!!
7. It's an absolutely WONDERFUL idea...on one condition.
   
   If you have any friends that are surviviors planning to attend, be sure to (very quietly and without much ado) ask them if they don't mind. Surprisingly to many, some survivors ABHOR pink and the month of October. Once you hear the words "You have cancer" you never get away from it. The fear of recurrence and mets is ALWAYS there. Yes, it may fade over time, but it's never far away. And a pink ribbon on ANYTHING may cause a flashback of what they went through, are going through, or could go through again.
   
   Conversely, they could be tickled PINK about it! (sorry...couldn't resist :) )
   
   Either way, things will go smoother if you know ahead of time. If not, your friend could walk in with a smile on her face, see the box of goodies, and start to cry. You don't want that on this wonderful occasion!
   
   Blessings and Congratulations!!
8. If you sell stuff at the engagement party, guests will wonder what they will have to "cough up" at the wedding.
   I find the entire idea to be repugnant and in poor taste. It falls outside of the bounds of what your celebrations are to be about. I would be offended if I was a guest.
   I say save the fundraising for a later time. The emphasis should be on you and your fiance's future together, not on breast cancer.