Pink for the Cause: Designer of Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon Dies of Cancer

The woman who co-designed the now-ubiquitous pink ribbon to promote breast cancer awareness has herself died of cancer.

75-year-old Evelyn Lauder died today at her Manhattan home of complications due to non-genetic ovarian cancer. Lauder co-designed the pink ribbon with the former editor of Self magazine, her good friend Alexandra Penney, in 1992. The ribbon quickly gained in popularity over the years and helped raise billions of dollars to search for a cure for the disease. The symbol was adopted by the Susan G. Komen Search for the Cure Foundation, and inspired similar, different colored ribbons to help raise awareness of other forms of the disease.

Mrs. Lauder was the daughter-in-law of the founder of cosmetics empire Estee Lauder. The money she raised helped fund the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, which opened in 2009. Lauder was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007, but continued to work tirelessly, both for the Estee Lauder Corporation and keeping up the search for a cancer cure.

Born in Vienna, Austria, she fled Nazi-occupied Europe with her parents during World War II. She met her husband Leonard, son of Estee Lauder, while attending Hunter College in New York. At the time, her mother-in-law's cosmetics company was a small, simple enterprise that would eventually grow into one of the most successful in the world. Evelyn came up with the name of the company's popular skin care line Clinique during the 1960s.

Leonard and Evelyn Lauder's son William is currently executive chairman of Estee Lauder. Another son, Gary, is managing director of Lauder Partners LLC, a technology investment firm.

Evelyn Lauder Photo Credit The Daily Mail

Larry Hagman Announces He Is Battling Cancer

Legendary Dallas and I Dream of Jeannie actor Larry Hagman has publicly announced he is is battling cancer. The 80-year-old star released the following statement yesterday regarding his diagnosis:
"As J.R. Ewing I could get away with anything — bribery, blackmail and adultery. But I got caught by cancer." Although declining to specify exactly what type of cancer he has, Hagman was optimistic on his prognosis, saying it's "a very common and treatable form of the disease." Several years ago, he suffered kidney failure and was saved by a last-second transplant that gave him a new lease on life. The actor says he will continue working on the TNT cable network's resurrection of the hit prime time soap Dallas, which is set to debut early next year. The show featuring the exploits of the oil-rich Ewing clan was a smash hit in the ratings during the 70s and 80s and reunites Hagman with former co-stars Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray.

Put Your Hands Up! Kylie Minogue Receives Honorary Doctorate

International superstar singer Kylie Minogue was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex in the UK yesterday for her tireless campaign to promote breast cancer detection and awareness. The 43-year-old Australian native experienced a personal battle with the disease when she was diagnosed with having cancer six years ago. She endured a year of grueling chemotherapy and radiation treatment before being given the all-clear by doctors. Clearly excited by the honor, she took to twitter to announce: "Robes pressed and ready? Check! Still in the car after 2 and a half hours? Check! Loads of welcome invites from Essex? Check! (ta!)" Congratulations on the great honor, Kylie.


From the Daily Mail:


Kylie Minogue Receives Honorary Doctorate