More Than 15,000 San Diegans to Participate in the 14th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®

Nov. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- San Diego, CA -- A sea of pink will stretch from Balboa Park to the 163 on Sunday, November 7 in an effort to raise public awareness and dollars for the fight against breast cancer. Breast cancer survivors, their families, friends, supporters and advocates will join forces in a show of strength, courage and solidarity, as they walk/run in the 14th Annual Komen San Diego Race for the Cure®.

Irene Oberbauer, this year’s Honorary Breast Cancer Survivor, along with more than 15,000 San Diegans and a number of international visitors are expected to participate in the event. San Diego City Councilmember Todd Gloria will also be present to say a few words during a Survivor Ceremony that will be held prior to the Race to recognize Oberbauer, as well as other San Diego breast cancer survivors and their families.

WHAT: 14th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®
WHEN: Sunday, November 7th - Opening Ceremonies: 7:20 a.m. - 5K Run/Walk Starts: 8:00 a.m.
WHERE: San Diego’s Balboa Park

This year’s Race will also include a lineup of live entertainment and special celebrity guests! Musical acts include Dawn Mitschele, Alysse Fischer, JJ Brown, The Groove Kitties, John Torres, Bad Habit and more. Ali Vincent, the first female winner of The Biggest Loser, and Ali Fedotowsky, the most recent bachelorette, along with other previous bachelorettes and bachelors will be participating. Sammantha McDonald, a 14 year breast cancer survivor, will also be renewing her wedding vows with her husband, Jerry, of 27 years at this year’s Race for the Cure®.

“We are extremely excited about this year’s Race,” said Laura Farmer Sherman, executive director of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, San Diego. “We have more registrants than ever and we’ve already exceeded our fundraising goal of $400,000! Komen San Diego is so proud of this city and the support the members of our community have shown for the cause, but there is still more that can be done. The need for breast health services is growing larger in San Diego, so we challenge you to join us on Sunday, November 7 to help us make change and eliminate breast cancer forever.”

Why we need your support: Every step counts! Your donation provides women and men in San Diego County with services that have literally saved lives. You help make the following programs possible:

• Free mammograms and diagnostics

• Medical treatment for qualified breast cancer patients who cannot afford care, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation

• Support services including support groups, assistance with finding financial resources, prescription refills and transportation to medical appointments

• Education about the warning signs of breast cancer, methods of early detection and the latest treatment options

• Cutting-edge research to find a cure for breast cancer

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® series, the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world, raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease. Since its inception in 1983, the Komen Race for the Cure® series has grown from one local race with 800 participants to a global series of more than 120 races with more than 1 million people expected to participate in 2010.

The Komen Race for the Cure® is a unique event, designed and implemented to promote positive awareness, education and early detection of breast cancer. It has proved to be an enormously effective way to reach many women and men with the message that breast cancer is not necessarily fatal if mammography and breast self-exam become routine. As well as being a road race for runners, the Komen Race for the Cure® is an emotionally charged event that attracts many first timers and recreational runners. The Komen Race for the Cure® is an opportunity for thousands of women, men and their families, running or walking, to spread the breast cancer message within their communities.

Up to 75 percent of the funds raised at the Komen San Diego Race for the Cure® remain here in San Diego to provide breast health research, diagnostics, screening, treatment, services and education for uninsured or underinsured women. The remaining 25 percent goes to fund national research to discover the causes of breast cancer and, ultimately, its cures.

San Diegans can sign up for the November 7, 2010, San Diego Race for the Cure® on Race day at Balboa Park. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. For additional information about the San Diego Race for the Cure® or Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, please visit the national Web site at www.komen.org, or the San Diego Affiliate Web site at www.komensandiego.org.

Why is the Race for the Cure® so important to San Diego County?
Since launching the breast cancer movement more than 30 years ago, Komen for the Cure has transformed the culture – bringing breast cancer out of the closet – changing the way the world talks about and treats this devastating disease. During the journey, it was often controversial and considered inappropriate to discuss diseases of the breast openly. We’ve come a long way – but we face new challenges. Here in San Diego County, many underserved women find breast cancer at a later and more aggressive stage and have a higher mortality rate. Still others have lost their jobs and can’t afford medical insurance. All of this is compounded by the California state budget crisis which forced the closure of the only free mammogram program open to women in this state. So, we’re doubling our efforts here at Komen San Diego to do what we can to raise additional funds. We raise funds primarily through the Race for the Cure®.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, San Diego
Since its inception in 1995, $8.5 million has been given to local organizations that provide breast cancer education, screening, diagnostics, treatment and patient support for the uninsured or underinsured in San Diego County. Seventy-five percent of every dollar raised through Affiliate-sponsored events stays right here in San Diego County to fund free diagnostic mammograms, treatment and services for uninsured and underinsured women and their families. The remaining 25 percent funds international breast cancer research. In fact, next to the U.S. government, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is the largest funder of breast cancer research in the world. For more information, please visit www.komensandiego.org.

Did you know?
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

The most significant risk factors are being a female and getting older.

Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate.

Breast cancer typically strikes women during their most productive years, both professionally and personally.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women ages 40-59.

Men can get breast cancer, too. One percent of breast cancer diagnosis will be in male patients.

Contact:
Rachel Wiley
Olive PR Solutions
350 W. Ash St. #103
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 955-5285
rachel@oliveprsolutions.com
http://www.komensandiego.org/