The best pink products of 2014

The arrival of October brings falling leaves, pumpkin-spiced everything, cozy knits – and a whole lot of pink. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month, and every year at this time there are new campaigns and pink products devoted to raising awareness and funds for the disease that will affect nearly 25,000 Canadians this year.

Actor and model Elizabeth Hurley was in Toronto last week to launch the 2014 Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, of which she’s been a global ambassador for 20 years. “Hear Our Stories. Share Yours” is the theme of this year’s campaign, and features the candid and incredibly moving experiences of four families who’ve been affected by breast cancer.

Hurley lost her grandmother to breast cancer shortly before she became involved with the campaign. Back then people weren’t talking about breast cancer, she says.

“My grandmother didn’t tell anyone she had a lump until she was in so much pain she had no choice but to. She had allowed her tumour to grow so big before she showed it to her doctor because she was so scared and frightened.”

Hurley stressed the importance of survivors and their loved ones speaking out and sharing their personal experiences.

“I think it’s phenomenal to take into account the people surrounding those with breast cancer. We’ve got so much to learn from the stories of people that have also taken on the illness in a way, and the trauma they’ve had to go through,” says Hurley. “There’s a solidarity and unity that comes from sharing.”