Published: October 01, 2009

Growing PinkTogether.com Community Connects Thousands Touched By Breast Cancer

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MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Pink Together campaign dedicated to spreading hope to those touched by breast cancer and to helping raise greater awareness of the disease today launched its third year. One in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, and in 2009 alone, more than 192,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed(1).

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The 2009 Pink Together campaign includes:

    --  PinkTogether.com, an ever-growing online community of hope powered by
        MySpace where those touched by breast cancer can connect, share
        inspiring personal stories and provide support, comfort and
        encouragement to others;
    --  A $2 million donation from General Mills to Susan G. Komen for the
        Cure® to advance breast cancer research and support education and
        community outreach projects;

    --  Special Pink Together packaging on an assortment of General Mills' most
        beloved brands during the month of October, including Cheerios® Cereal,
        Nature Valley® Granola Bars, Green Giant® Frozen Vegetables, Fiber
        One® Cereal, Progresso® Soup, Hamburger Helper® Dinner Mixes,
        Pillsbury® Crescent and Refrigerated Cookie Dough, and Betty Crocker®
        Muffin Mixes and Warm Delights® Desserts.

PinkTogether.com Supports Largest Group of Cancer Survivors in the U.S.

"PinkTogether.com is the heart of our Pink Together campaign," said Steve Greer, Pink Together director. "People who have been touched by breast cancer - including many of us in the General Mills family - are able to share stories of strength, support and survival. We're proud to help connect the 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in America today and the many people supporting them on their journey."

Since the 2007 launch of PinkTogether.com, thousands of breast cancer survivors and supporters have made personal connections on the site by posting stories or comments of encouragement or by sending virtual flower bouquets as a sign of support. New to the site this year is a forum for the newly diagnosed and a spotlight featuring stories from celebrities.

Site visitors can draw strength from the powerful stories, blog posts and video interviews posted by five Pink Together Survivor Ambassadors, women the campaign is recognizing for the inspiration they provide others through personal stories of courage and survival. 2009 Ambassadors include Molly Bobrow, Houston, TX; Irene Hernandez, Oxnard, CA; Crystal King, Grand Prairie, TX; Linsey Maughan, Pinckneyville, IL; and Jackie Uhl, Canandaigua, NY.

"Like thousands of others, our Ambassadors are eager to share their inspiring stories of survival. Posting these stories for the benefit of others is really the essence of Pink Together," said Andrew Lainsbury, Pink Together manager. "One person's story is truly another person's hope."

Pink Together Provides Incentive to Connect Online

To encourage personal connections, General Mills will donate $1 for each inspirational story submitted, comment posted or virtual flower bouquet sent on PinkTogether.com and each shared message of hope posted on the Pink Together Facebook fan page - up to $25,000 - during the month of October. This is in addition to its $2 million donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

"General Mills has been a longtime partner in the fight against breast cancer," said Katrina McGhee, vice president of marketing, Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "Through Pink Together, the company is giving breast cancer survivors a unique opportunity to share hope with anyone who has ever been touched by the disease."

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, Haagen-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, which is now the world's largest breast cancer organization and the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer with more than $1.3 billion invested to date. 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.

Pink Together is a trademark of General Mills

(1) American Cancer Society (both statistics)

Share Messages of Hope on the Pink Together Facebook Fan Page

Hear the Pink Together Survivor Ambassadors Share Stories of Courage and Survival

SOURCE General Mills