October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and whether you love to shop, attend events, walk or run, there are tons of different ways to support the cause.

Park Ridge paints the town pink Friday, October 5 for Pink Day in honor of the movement to fight breast cancer. The Pink Taxi Organization is asking businesses, neighbors and community leaders to join in on the pink party. Pink Taxi will donate a portion of the day’s proceeds, from all taxi rides, to the American Cancer Society. For more information, check out this link.

The American Cancer Society’s Hoffman Estates 2012 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk will be October 14. Or, participate in the North Shore Making Strides event with Westfield’s Project Pink on October 21 at the Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard in Skokie. Nationwide more than eight million people have walked for this cause and raised $460 million. You can still sign up or donate to either event by clicking here.

Join in the “Pink Party with a Purpose” October 17 at the Lamplighter Inn Tavern and Grill in Palatine. The Dynamic Professional Women’s Network of Palatine is hosting the event which will offer educational information about area cancer resources as well as networking, pink hair extensions and door prizes. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to Wellness Place, a community-based cancer education, counseling and support resource center in Palatine.

There are additional ways to spread breast cancer awareness this month by supporting national organizations that are fighting for a cure.

Research centers like Susan G. Komen for the Cure are selling pink ribbon merchandise and it’s a twofer — retail therapy and donating to a cause that affects millions.

You can also support breast cancer research by affixing a special stamp to your mail. The U.S. Postal Service has been selling a stamp commemorating breast cancer awareness for the past 15 years. The agency has raised $75 million so far for research programs at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.

And you can join people from four continents in a Race for the Cure event organized by Susan G. Komen For The Cure, or an Avon Walk For Breast Cancer event organized by the Avon Foundation for Women.

TELL US: Is there a special event you participate in to support breast cancer research? Share your stories and thoughts with us by adding them to the comments sections of this article. Also, be sure to add photos of you and your friends supporting the cause to the photo gallery above.