PINK MITTEN CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES IN NORTH AMERICA

RAISES $300,000 FOR THE CANADIAN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION
AND SUSAN G. KOMEN (USA)

TORONTO, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ - This December, the Pink Mitten Campaign is an excellent way to stay warm in style while making a contribution to the breast cancer cause.

Starting December 9th, 2010, over 300,000 Pink Mittens will be available in more than 2,400 retailers across North America. Each high quality knitted mitten is fleece-lined and features a pink ribbon appliqué, a symbol of hope for all those who have been touched by breast cancer. For each pair of Pink Mittens sold, Kootenay Knit & Apparel will make a $1.00 contribution to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation in Canada and Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in the USA to support relevant breast cancer research, education and awareness programs in North America.

"The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is so proud to be a part of this exciting new program," says Holly Henderson, Interim Director of Corporate Programs at the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation."The Pink Mitten Campaign is an incredible opportunity for individuals to make a difference, one pair of mittens at a time."

Each year, millions of North Americans are touched by breast cancer. It not only impacts those individuals living with the disease, but their families, friends and loved ones. According to 2010 Canadian Cancer Statistics¹, one in nine Canadian women is expected to develop breast cancer during their lifetime (if she lives to age 90). This year, an estimated 23,200 women and 180 men in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and an estimated 5,300 women and 50 men will die of it.

Kootenay Knit and Apparel, creator of The Pink Mitten Campaign, was a licensee for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. "Our company was inspired by the incredible success of the Red Mitten phenomena during the Olympics," says owner Allan Rella. "We realized that there was an opportunity to create The Pink Mitten Campaign to support breast cancer research funding in North America. The Pink Mitten Campaign is our statement towards positive change. The Aboriginal Mother Center Society located in Vancouver must be acknowledged for the incredible effort, determination and perseverance that their team put forth to perform a distribution miracle by receiving, repackaging and redirecting Pink Mittens to over 2,000 locations in North America in less than 48 hours. This massive undertaking is a story in itself.

Beverley Mahood is a successful Recording Artist and Host of the CMT Series "Pick a Puppy". She recently participated at the G8 as the only performer and at the G20 as part of the Canadian Women of Distinction event. She has enthusiastically joined The Pink Mitten Campaign as its spokesperson. "I am honoured to team up with such a creative campaign to fund breast cancer research and awareness. Everyone needs warm hands, a warm heart and a healthy life without this terrible disease ... Makes sense for everyone to buy a pair of pink mittens ... and wear them."

The program's first sold out stage has raised over $300,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and Susan G Komen for the Cure®. The goal is to raise 2.5 million dollars while elevating breast cancer awareness as the program expands through 2011. As Mahood says, "It's early, but there is already an amazing heartbeat to this program."

To learn more about The Pink Mitten Campaign, where to buy your pair, or to order online,
visit:

http://www.pinkmitten.com



JOIN HANDS AND HELP CREATE A FUTURE WITHOUT BREAST CANCER

Kootenay Knit and Apparel: http://www.kootenayknitting.com

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation: http://www.cbcf.org

Susan G. Komen for the Cure®: http://www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

Beverley Mahood: (416) 802-0509, email [email protected] or visit http://www.beverleymahood.com

Aboriginal Mother Center Society of Vancouver: Mary Adams, Manager at 604 569-0965, email: [email protected]

¹ Canadian Cancer Society /National Cancer Institute of Canada. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2010, Toronto, Canada, 2010

SOURCE Kootenay Knit and Apparel