Looking back at breast cancer awareness month with Europa Donna member countries ❄️🎄🎁

Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness across Europa Donna member countries! 🌸

Throughout October 2025, Europa Donna member organisations across Europe and beyond once again mobilised to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Breast Health Day. Across countries, cultures, and contexts, our network came together with one shared goal: to raise awareness, promote prevention, advocate for patients’ rights, and save lives.

The initiatives presented below represent a selection of the many activities organised this year. They offer a snapshot of the creativity, commitment, and impact of our member organisations — from community-based events and innovative awareness tools to strong institutional advocacy and workplace initiatives.

While it is not possible to showcase every single action carried out across the network, we are deeply proud of every forum, campaign, event, and local initiative implemented by our members. Each action, whether large or small, contributes meaningfully to increasing awareness, empowering patients, and keeping breast health firmly on the public agenda.

Together, these efforts reflect the strength, diversity, and solidarity of the Europa Donna network — many voices, one mission.

🇦🇹 Austria

For several years, the Österreichische Krebshilfe has organised a Patient Congress in prestigious venues such as the Austrian Parliament. In 2025, the Congress took place on 1 October at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, officially launching Pinktober.
The event benefited once again from close collaboration with Europa Donna, with Dr Tanja Schneider acting as medical advisor. She was one of eight medical experts who volunteered to engage directly with patients, answering questions on breast and abdominal cancer in a true dialogue on equal footing.

🇭🇷 Croatia

On 15 October, Breast Health Day was marked with the panel discussion “Pinky Promise”, organised in cooperation with the popular women’s online platform miss7, helping reach a wide and engaged audience.

🇨🇿 Czech Republic

On 15 October, the annual swimming event “Swimming the Breaststroke” challenged participants to symbolically swim across the globe.
Together with 10 local organisations, participants swam a total of 999 km, equivalent to 303 laps around the local pond. The event brought together generations, from the youngest participant aged 4 to the oldest aged 90.

🇫🇮 Finland

To mark Breast Health Day, Europa Donna Finland encouraged physical activity through an interactive mobile game, combining prevention messages with innovation and engagement.

🇬🇪 Georgia

Breast Health Day was marked with a Pink Walk, a Life Chain for LIFE, and a flash mob, bringing together patients, students, doctors, and supporters in a strong public demonstration of solidarity.

🇬🇷 Greece

In October 2025, Europa Donna Hellas organised a 2-hour hybrid event at the headquarters of AB Vasilopoulos, one of Greece’s largest supermarket chains.
The programme included three expert talks addressing breast cancer prevention from a medical perspective, the importance of physical activity, and mental and psychological wellbeing. Thanks to the hybrid format, employees from supermarkets across Greece were able to participate, making this initiative a strong example of corporate social responsibility and workplace-based health promotion.

🇮🇹 Italy

Europa Donna Italia continued its advocacy around the TSM Manifesto, with a strong focus on access to innovative treatments.
A powerful new slogan highlighted the urgency for institutions to approve innovative drugs already validated in Europe. The campaign was presented on 9 October to the President of AIFA, who committed to providing swift and concrete answers, and culminated on 13 October, National Metastatic Breast Cancer Day.

🇱🇹 Lithuania

In preparation for Pink October, the photo project “Drauge kelyje” (“Together on the Road”) was implemented in August–September in partnership with Eurovaistinė and NCC.
People who had experienced the patient journey participated in photo sessions with their relatives, highlighting the importance of support. The photo exhibition opened on 15 October at the National M. Mažvydas Library.

🇲🇹 Malta

On 12 October, the Sliema Breast Health Day Yoga & Walk combined mindfulness, movement, and medical awareness, extending its message to both local communities and international residents and tourists.

🇳🇴 Norway

Throughout October, Europa Donna Norway marked Pink Ribbon Month with extensive social media activity, alongside dedicated actions for Metastatic Breast Cancer Day and Breast Health Day. The month was further strengthened by multiple media interviews, amplifying awareness nationwide.

🇷🇴 Romania

On 1 October, the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest was illuminated pink for the 25th edition of the Pink Illumination event. This initiative marked Romania’s National Day for the Fight Against Breast Cancer, officially established by Parliament in 2014 at the initiative of the Renașterea Foundation.

🇷🇸 Serbia

In October, the regional campaign “Mom, Be Healthy” encouraged children and adolescents to become health ambassadors within their families. Around 4,000 educational brochures were distributed to students to share with their parents.

🇸🇰 Slovakia

The Day for Healthy Breasts in Trnava combined education and community-building through yoga sessions, a community run, a shared picnic, educational workshops, and open discussions with patients and doctors.

🇸🇪 Sweden

In October, Europa Donna Sweden launched a Breast Cancer Report addressing mammography screening for women aged 74+, highlighting the lives that could be saved by extending screening to older age groups.

🇹🇯 Tajikistan

Breast Health Day 2025 activities were organised as an informational and preventive campaign reaching women in the general population, workplaces, and primary healthcare facilities. The initiative reached 400 women, increasing awareness and motivation to undergo preventive examinations.

🇹🇷 Turkey

On 15 October, Breast Cancer Awareness Day was marked with an Awareness Panel organised in collaboration with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Women’s Directorate.

💗 October 2025 once again demonstrated the strength and diversity of the Europa Donna network: many voices, one shared mission — saving lives through awareness, prevention, advocacy, and solidarity.

❄️ Europa Donna wishes you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
We hope you enjoy a safe, joyful, and relaxing holiday season. ❄️