Think Pink: Shopping for a Cause That's Close to Everyone’s Heart

Christina Tynan-Wood

October is officially Breast Cancer Awareness month. As I’m sure you’re already aware, it’s a deadly serious health issue. Breast cancer is the second most common form of the disease (after skin cancer). It kills 40,000 people — women and men — annually in the United States. And it’s treatable if you catch it early.

So if you know someone with breasts, why not remind them to have those things checked? But that’s not all you can do: You can also go shopping.

This week, I’ve rounded up a batch of deals that’ll get you some cool tech-related merchandise and at the same time help support breast-cancer research. Yes, most of these items are pink. But even if that isn’t a color you’d normally sport, I think you can suspend that particular fashion rule for a good cause.

So make sure you (or someone you know) gets checked. (One deal I didn’t include below: the free screenings offered by Planned Parenthood.) And then go get yourself some pink tech.

HTC One M9

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Show your support for the cause every time you whip out this special edition HTC One M9 smartphone. It’s all pretty-in-pink to raise awareness of breast cancer. And even if you don’t buy the phone (or its accessories, which are currently 30% off), HTC plans to donate $25,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation this month. But if you do buy it, you’ll get a pink ribbon, a $100 Google Play store credit, and a pink Dot View Ice case.

SCOSCHE goPINK for Hope audio line

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In partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, SCOSCHE has created a line of pink audio devices and mobile phone accessories called goPINK for Hope. If you shop from the goPINK for Hope link, you’ll get 25 percent off your purchase. Be sure and check out the pink boomBOTTLE ($130) in particular: It’s a rugged, waterproof Bluetooth speaker that goes anywhere, even if you go by bike. (It fits right into a bike’s water-bottle cage, so you can blast tunes on your commute.) SCOSCHE will donate 25 percent of your purchase to cancer research, too.

Brooklyn Bedding

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OK, it’s not technology per se, but you order online, so it’s close: You can buy Brooklyn Bedding’s Best Mattress in the World for just $750 for a queen-size, with free shipping right to your door. Even if it is a good deal, you might be nervous about dropping that kind of cash on a bed without lying down on it first. But you can lie down on it for 120 nights after it’s delivered and still return it for free: Yep, someone will just come by and take it away. In the month of October, Brooklyn Bedding will donate 5 percent of your purchase to the First Down Fund in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.

X-Doria F*ck Cancer iPhone cases

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X-Doria has designed a line of cases for the iPhone 6/6s and 6 Plus/6s Plus emblazoned with the in-your-face motto of the F*ck Cancer organization. It’s cool enough that these cases blast that group’s awesome sentiment right from your phone. But F*ck Cancer doesn’t just cuss for a cause. It’s also working to improve health outcomes through digital initiatives, early detection programs, education, and community events. Proceeds from every case sold from this line will support that work. Oh, and the cases give your phone some slick and slim protection.