Christ The Redeemer Statue lit pink to mark breast cancer awareness month

RIO DE JANIERO, Brazil - The "Pink October" campaign have included monuments such as the Sydney Opera House and New York's Empire State building in the past.

Officials say including the Christ statue in the campaign creates a sense of community in the fight against breast cancer.

They hope campaigns like this and others taking place throughout the month will help create awareness and encourage women over the age of 45 to have an annual mammogram.

According to Brazil's National Cancer Institute, over forty-nine thousand new cases were diagnosed in 2010.

((Copyright ABC NEWS 2011))