3D Printing in Support! Proto3000 Creates 3D Printed Breast Cancer Ribbons for Charity

Breast cancer is a subject that can often be difficult to navigate, as the topic brings many emotions to the surface—sadness due to bereavement, fear, worry—but also hope. Science, research, and medicine have brought about great change in the survival statistics for breast cancer, and as it is only exceeded by lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer death in women, breast cancer awareness is finally getting the spotlight it truly requires–and especially in October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM). BCAM is an international health campaign intended to promote awareness, education, support to raise funds for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and a cure.

The pink ribbon, an international symbol of breast cancer awareness, has come to be a positive symbol of hope, life, remembrance, and celebration. That certainly seems like something worth 3D printing! Ontario-based 3D printing solutions company, Proto3000 obviously agrees, and they are beginning Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a fundraising effort to support The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, who will be the recipient of all the proceeds.

Proto3000 announced that they will be ‘3D Printing for the Cure,’ making two 3D printed selections available to those who donate. They are offering a keychain or a necklace, both sporting dangling pink ribbons. For information on ordering a 3D printed breast cancer ribbon keychain or necklace for a $10 donation, click here.

If you have a 3D printer at home, you can also print your own pink ribbon by going to, and downloading the file free on Thingiverse. The topic of where 3D printing is headed is common these days as one seemingly impossible creation after another makes headlines, and this is just one more inspirational direction for the use of such incredible technology which is making a substantial impact in the areas of medicine and science.

As a company rooted in providing solutions, Proto3000’s ‘3D Printing for the Cure’ is inspiring in its use of a new technology to show all that it can do to further a very important cause. Proto3000 points out on their website that in Canada, one in nine women is expected to have breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman’s death is about 1 in 36 (about 3%). Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1989, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment.

Proto3000 operates in product development, manufacturing, engineering, and dentistry. Their solution portfolio includes: 3D printing, reverse engineering, rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, direct digital manufacturing, 3D Scanning, metrology and 3D CAD design. Questions about Proto3000’s 3D printed ribbons should be sent to reuben@proto3000.com. 

Will you be involved in 3D printing any breast cancer awareness ribbons or something similiar? Tell us about it in the Proto3000 Breast Cancer Ribbon forum at 3DPB.com.