YOPLAIT® AND CELEBRITY BREAST CANCER SURGEON DR. KRISTI FUNK EMPHASIZE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION AND RISK REDUCTION
11th year of Save Lids to Save Lives® encourages people to join in the fight against breast cancer
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Sept. 15, 2009) /PRNewswire/ — One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer within her lifetime; that's 12 percent of all women who will be personally impacted by the disease*. Since there are no cures for breast cancer, Yoplait® and celebrity breast cancer surgeon Dr. Kristi Funk are joining forces this September and October to educate women and men about the importance of reducing breast cancer risk, early detection and meaningful ways to support the cause. Founder of the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Beverly Hills, Dr. Funk has helped thousands of women through breast cancer treatment, including well-known celebrities like Sheryl Crow.
"For many of my patients, breast cancer can be a scary topic, but it's so important that we talk about our risks and learn ways we can reduce the chances of getting this disease," commented Dr. Funk. "Early detection is one of the most important things we can do to fight breast cancer, since there is no guaranteed way to prevent it. I'm thrilled to be teaming up with Yoplait to reach more women and men about the importance of early detection, risk reduction and the need for fundraising to support research to find a cure."
The collaboration underscores Yoplait's longstanding commitment to the fight against breast cancer through its Save Lids to Save Lives® program. For more than a decade, Yoplait has made it easy for people to contribute to the breast cancer cause by saving and mailing in their pink lids from Yoplait yogurt cups in September and October. For every pink lid mailed in by Dec. 31, 2009, Yoplait will donate 10 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, up to $1.5 million with a guaranteed donation of $500,000.
"With the help of lid collectors across the country last year, we made every lid matter by reaching our $1.5 million donation goal to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and we want to reach this goal again in 2009," said Tammy Sadinsky Martin of Yoplait. "There is so much more that needs to be done in the fight against breast cancer and by working with Dr. Funk we hope to raise awareness and generate funds to ultimately help save lives."
People can join Yoplait's awareness and fundraising efforts at YourLidMatters.com, where they can create online lid collection teams to engage and inspire friends, family and networks to collect and send in pink lids. People can also interact with Dr. Funk through 30-second breast health videos and a question and answer section.
During the past 11 years, Yoplait has donated more than $22 million to the breast cancer cause through Save Lids to Save Lives and other initiatives. Participating Yoplait products include all single serve yogurt cups -- Original, Light, Thick & Creamy, Light Thick & Creamy and Whips!, Yo-Plus Digestive Health multi-packs and select specially-marked packages of the Large Size Yoplait yogurts. As of August 2009, all Yoplait products are made with milk sourced from cows not treated with rBST.
For more information about Save Lids to Save Lives or Dr. Funk, log on to www.YourLidMatters.com.
*American Cancer Society, Detailed Guide: Breast Cancer
About General Mills
One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in over 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had fiscal 2009 global net sales of US$15.9 billion, including the company's $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales. Visit www.generalmills.com.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, we have invested more than $1.3 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.
