The Memorial Affiliate of Susan G. Komen recently awarded over $153,000 to Springfield area agencies for programs that provide breast health awareness, education, and screening. The Springfield area grants are part of the total funding of $583,243 the Memorial Affiliate provided this year throughout its 36-county service area. Much of the money for these worthy grants was raised during the Inaugural Springfield Komen Race for the Cure® last May. Nearly 2,500 participants, including 250 breast cancer survivors, joined the 5K run/walk and raised an estimated $220,000. Seventy-five percent of net proceeds from Memorial Affiliate events remain in central Illinois, and twenty-five percent supports the Susan G. Komen National Grant program for breast cancer research.
The Second Annual Springfield Komen Race for the Cure® to help fund efforts to fight breast cancer will be held Friday evening, May 15 in downtown Springfield around the State Capitol. Registration is now open at www.komenmemorial.org. A pre-race ceremony and street party, along with a very special parade of survivors, begins at 6:00 PM with the 5K run/walk kicking off at 7:00 PM. The evening is highlighted with a pink firework display in front of the state capitol around 8:45 PM.
Participants can register as an individual or create a team of friends, family, and coworkers, all supporting the Komen cause. Runners of all ages and ability levels are welcome, including competitive runners. This year will feature a special activities area just for Kids For the Cure. For an additional donation, decorative tulips can be decorated with the name of someone being honored or remembered for his or her fight with breast cancer as part of “Suzy’s Garden.”
Every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, and every 13 minutes, a woman loses her battle against the disease. Men are not immune to breast cancer, either. More than 30 years ago central Illinois native Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister Suzy that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. Nancy’s promise became the Susan G. Komen organization and launched the global breast cancer movement. Thanks to events like the Race for the Cure, Susan G. Komen has invested more than $2 billion to fulfill the promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer.
