MANILA, Philippines - This October, the Ministry of Mushrooms, Inc. will launch “Mushrooms Go Pink,” a collaborative breast cancer awareness campaign in line with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The campaign continues until the end of the year with the goal of giving the public more options in attaining a more holistic lifestyle. Ministry of Mushroom, Inc. believes that wellness can be achieved by stimulating the senses through nourishing food, art and alternative forms of healing.
Close to 500,000 die from breast cancer every year and it is today’s leading killer of women aged 35-54 around the world. Some estimates show that one in 13 Filipinas will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. According to studies done by the Philippine General Hospital and the Cancer Institute of the Philippines “at present, there is low cancer prevention consciousness (in the Philippines),” and sadly, this lack of cancer knowledge has perpetuated the nation’s relatively low survival rates. If this persists, experts conclude one in 1,800 Filipinos will develop cancer each year.
So why mushrooms? Scientific studies today show that some properties found in mushrooms can possibly lead to breast cancer prevention and elimination (though regular checkups and breast exams are still essential). “It is strongly suggested that mushrooms be added to one’s daily diet” says Ministry of Mushrooms president and CEO Marco Lobregat “Oyster mushrooms for example, have both antioxidant and anti-tumor properties. It has been discovered that extracts from this mushroom interfere with the cancer cell cycle and cancer cells from spreading.”
In line with this Ministry of Mushrooms has joined forces with over 20 well-lauded restaurants and food specialists around Metro Manila in creating and serving dishes made with locally grown oyster mushrooms to serve as edible representations of the campaign. Proceeds from the specified dishes ordered will go to raise funds for the benefit of the ICanServe Foundation.
Coming together for this cause are like-minded collaborators co.lab Manila, Rustan’s Coffee Corp, Edgy Veggy, Kitchen Revolution, Stillpoint Manila, Jagnus Design Studio + Secret Fresh + Detalle, Zodio Philippines, Soul Spa Philippines and LBC Foundation.
Mushrooms Go Pink also pushes to raise awareness using different platforms and collaborative events which include: Soul Spa Healing Energy Awareness Talks (Oct. 11); Edgy Veggy + Kitchen Revolution Benefit Dinner, Cooking Demo, and Lecture
(Oct. 16); “Bototoy Loves Boobies” Art Fundraiser (Oct. 17); Yoga For Breast Cancer Recovery at co.lab Manila (Oct. 18); and Apple and Android app Zodio’s donations to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
For the Mushrooms Go Pink collaborators, awareness is key, and information is a giant step towards prevention. It is a shared belief that Cancer prevention is really about being fully aware about early detection, living a healthier lifestyle, and the importance of nutrition. Mushrooms — arguably today’s most revolutionary super-food — have the greatest potential to alter cancer studies, and possibly treatments.
To learn more about the Mushrooms Go Pink campaign contact Ministry of Mushrooms, Inc. at www.ministryofmushrooms.com or e-mail ministryofmushrooms@gmail.com.