Welcome to PinkRibbon International
About important things
At PinkRibbon International, this is more than a mission — it’s personal.
Behind every ribbon is a name, a face, a story. A mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend. Someone we’ve loved, someone we’ve lost, someone still fighting. This is why we do what we do — and why we invite you to stand with us.
When illness strikes a loved one, it does not only change their life — it reshapes the lives of everyone around them.”
A personal letter from the Founder, Walter Scheffrahn
These words are not just a quote — they come directly from Walter Scheffrahn, the man who started PinkRibbon International. In this heartfelt message, Walter shares the story of his sister Désirée, the battles that shaped his vision, and the promise that still guides our mission today.
How it all started
Inspired by a desire to raise breast cancer awareness and fund research, PinkRibbon International was envisioned in 1997.
Walter Scheffrahn formally founded PinkRibbon Inc. in 2008 to support his sister, Désirée, during her battle.
Today, we’re a global initiative fighting all female gender-related cancers impacting millions.
Meet the Board
At the heart of PinkRibbon International are people who care deeply — many with personal ties to the cause. They bring professional expertise and personal conviction to a single purpose: ensuring that donations fund real research, and that no woman faces cancer alone.
Walter Scheffrahn MBA MBI LLM
Secretary & Founder
Walter’s career has been defined by his work in international branding and intellectual property, where he has guided and protected some of the world’s most recognisable identities. In 2002, his life took a deeply personal turn when his sister Désirée was diagnosed with breast cancer — an event that not only shook his family but also revealed the need for a more transparent, research-driven approach in the nonprofit sector. Out of this experience, Walter envisioned PinkRibbon International in 1997 and formally founded Pink Ribbon Inc. in 2008, determined to protect the pink ribbon symbol from misuse and to direct resources toward meaningful change. As Founder and Secretary, he continues to safeguard the organisation’s mission, ensuring that its values remain uncompromised while guiding its governance and long-term vision.
Dr Xavier Weert
President
Xavier’s professional path has centred on international funding initiatives, particularly those that drive medical innovation and scientific research. His perspective shifted when cancer touched the lives of close friends, confronting him with the urgency of advancing research. Inspired by their battles, he chose to dedicate his leadership and expertise to the cause of PinkRibbon International. As President, Xavier combines strategic vision with compassion, guiding the organisation’s growth and ensuring it reaches women worldwide
Ton van der Stap
Treasurer
Ton has built his expertise over many years in financial management, combining precision with responsibility across a career dedicated to making resources count. His connection to PinkRibbon International is deeply personal: both his wife and daughter have faced cancer, giving him a profound understanding of what families go through — and why properly funded research matters. That experience transformed his financial knowledge into something more than numbers — a commitment to ensuring that every donation makes a real difference. As Treasurer, Ton ensures that every resource entrusted to PinkRibbon International is used with care, integrity, and lasting impact.
Meet our Ambassadors
We believe in promises kept, not just awareness raised. Our hand-picked ambassadors are the architects of this change, chosen for their integrity and their refusal to accept the status quo. In this space, we celebrate the organizations and individuals who have woven our cause into their DNA, proving that when transparency meets passion, we don’t just fund research – we spark hope.
Dr Annalisa Jenkins OBE MBBS FRCP
Over 25 years in the biopharmaceutical industry, Annalisa has led global drug development programmes at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck Serono, taken a gene therapy company public on NASDAQ, and served on the boards of Cancer Research Horizons, Genomics England, the British Heart Foundation, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, a committee member of the US FDA’s Science Board, and chairs YouBelong, a leading mental health charity. In 2025, she was awarded an OBE for services to life sciences.
What draws Annalisa to PinkRibbon International is not her CV — it is her conviction that scientific research, properly funded and transparently directed, can change outcomes for millions of women worldwide. She has spent her career turning science into medicine that reaches patients. At PinkRibbon International, she brings that same purpose: ensuring that donations fund real research, that partnerships deliver real impact, and that no woman faces cancer alone.
Seema Mangoo
Seema’s career has been shaped by bridging worlds. During her tenure at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi, she led international market engagement, working closely with senior government officials, multinational executives, and institutional partners to advance cooperation between the UK and UAE. She has held governance and leadership positions across public institutions, including chairing a London school governing board, and brings experience in oversight of large-scale public sector programmes.
Today, as Founder and Managing Director of Hourglass Business Services, she advises international organisations on market entry and stakeholder strategy across the GCC. At PinkRibbon International, she brings that same partnership-led approach — connecting the organisation with donors, collaborators, and opportunities in the UAE, and supporting the responsible growth of a global movement that believes no woman should face cancer alone.
Scientific Research Advisory Counsel
A global network of medical experts and researchers guides our work, providing evidence-based insights and a shared commitment to advancing women’s health.
Breast cancer specialist, Australian National University
Palliative care consultant, Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata; chair of the WONCA global group on palliative care and cancer.
Cancer geneticist at Queen’s University Belfast whose research explores how inherited genetic variation influences breast cancer risk in both women and men
James Mackenzie professor of general practice, University of Edinburgh
Medical oncologist and breast cancer expert, CEO of myFriendMD (USA)
Professor of Surgery in the department of Surgery in Delta State University
Professor of Molecular Oncology and Deputy Director of the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research (PGJCCR)
What we stand for
Every diagnosis of female cancer dramatically changes a life, and yet so many of these diseases could be prevented or treated more effectively if research were developed and quality care were accessible.
PinkRibbon directs at least 85% of all donations directly to funding research projects. We are completely transparent about the use of your support, publishing information on all projects that have passed a rigorous review by our Global Expert Advisory Group, ensuring scientific validity and an equitable approach.
We believe the pink ribbon should symbolize not empty promises, but real results and lives saved. We reject “pinkwashing.”
of all donations go directly to scientific research funding
The PinkRibbon International Story
The pink ribbon’s journey began long before PinkRibbon International existed. In 1973, Tony Orlando’s Tie a Yellow Ribbon turned a simple ribbon into a universal symbol of hope — and when Penelope Laingen tied yellow ribbons during the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis, the gesture spread nationwide as a sign of solidarity. By the early 1990s, that idea had found its way into the fight against breast cancer. Charlotte Haley began handing out peach-coloured ribbons with cards urging more funding for cancer prevention. When Estée Lauder and Self magazine adopted the concept in 1992 — distributing 1.5 million ribbons at beauty counters across the United States — they changed the colour to pink, and a global symbol was born.
In 1985, the first official Breast Cancer Awareness Month was launched, bringing mammography and early detection into the public conversation. By 1997, the website pinkribbon.com had become one of the first global online platforms for cancer awareness — a pioneering digital presence that would later be carried forward by PinkRibbon International. Walter Scheffrahn formally founded Pink Ribbon Inc. in New York in 2008, with a clear commitment: at least 85% of every donation would go directly to scientific research funding, with a maximum of 15% for operations.
In 2024, the organisation broadened its mission from breast cancer to include all female cancers — ovarian, cervical, and endometrial — because early detection shouldn’t depend on where you live or which cancer you face. Today, PinkRibbon International operates across more than 50 countries, works alongside partners like Queen’s University Belfast and the Tata Medical Centre, and has established a Scientific Research Advisory Council to ensure that every funded project meets the highest standards of scientific rigour and equitable impact.
Become a part of PinkRibbon
Join the movement
This is not just our movement — it’s yours too.
Whether you’re walking this road as a survivor, a loved one, a researcher, or simply as someone who believes in a world where no woman is left behind, we welcome you.
Your support could be someone’s turning point – donate today.
A diagnosis changes everything — but so can your support. Your donation funds groundbreaking scientific research into breast cancer and other female cancers. With 85% of every donation going directly to research, every contribution drives the discoveries that will protect future generations of women. Every pound makes a difference.
Global PinkRibbon map
PinkRibbon International operates in 58 countries worldwide. Click on a country to learn about PinkRibbon’s work in your region, find your local affiliate, or make a donation.
Bank transfer details
Help us by donating directly
Bank name: FLAGSTAR BANK, N.A.
Adress: 1400 Broadway 25th Floor, New York, NY 10018
Beneficiary ABA Number: 026013576
Beneficiary Bank Swift BIC Code: SIGNUS 33
Swift code: MRMDUS33
Beneficiary Account Number: 1505722597
Beneficiary Name: PINK RIBBON INC