Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® to Make Significant Impact on San Diego’s Breast Cancer Screening

With cuts to the Every Woman Counts program and uninsured numbers increasing in San Diego County, Komen San Diego is set to Make Change in a challenging economy with new campaign.

[USPRwire, Wed Aug 11 2010] Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists committed to ending breast cancer forever, is ramping up for the 14th Annual Komen San Diego Race for the Cure®, which will be held Sunday, November 7, 2010. Irene Oberbauer, this year’s Honorary Breast Cancer Survivor, along with more than 13,000 San Diegans donning pink breast cancer awareness clothing, banners and memorial messages are expected to unite in Balboa Park for the event. A survivor ceremony will be held prior to the race to recognize Oberbauer as well as other San Diego breast cancer survivors and their families.

To make an even greater impact, Komen San Diego is launching the Make Change campaign that will coincide with the Race for the Cure®. Make Change will raise funds to help close the gaps left after major budget cuts to breast cancer screening programs like Every Woman Counts in San Diego County. Make Change also makes it easier for more people to join Komen’s cause and donate, because all you need is a handful of change to participate. Pink change buckets will be placed at a variety of events and busy intersections throughout San Diego. The campaign encourages the public to become Change Makers by simply donating spare change to raise money, increase awareness and help find a cure for breast cancer.

“Due to major budget cuts and an increase of uninsured San Diegans, events like Race for the Cure® combined with the Make Change campaign are now more important than ever,” said Laura Farmer Sherman, executive director of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, San Diego. “During this time of economic uncertainty, we know that the need for breast health services is growing larger in San Diego. We ask that members of our community support us in the Race for the Cure® and Make Change so that we can ensure we have the necessary funding to help as many men and women in San Diego as possible.”

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.

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. San Diegans can sign up for the November 7, 2010, San Diego Race for the Cure® on the San Diego Affiliate Web site, or by calling In Motion at (760) 692-2900.

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.

August 27: Golf for the Cure Tournament at Salt Creek Golf Club
Come to the first annual Golf for the Cure Tournament hosted by Lt. Adam Osborn! The cost for the event is only $75. The price includes lunch, dinner, four drink tickets (beer, soda, and water), 18 holes of golf, a riding cart, a goody bag and prizes! For more information and to register, please visit sdgolfforthecure.com -- PayPal is available!

September 5: Pink Day at the Races
Support breast cancer awareness by wearing pink and receive FREE Stretch Run Admission on Sunday, September 5. Enter the Pink Gate at the Stretch Run entrance. Gather up your loose change and stop to make a donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Make Change campaign by depositing change in pink buckets located in Plaza de Mexico inside the admission gate.

September 14: Massage for the Cure® with Massage Envy®
Susan G. Komen for the Cure is proud to once again be the beneficiary of Massage for the Cure® in 2010. Massage for the Cure is an annual, one-day event presented by Massage Envy® offering one-hour therapeutic massage sessions for $49 with $15 from each massage being donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 100% of the funds raised will be given to Komen Affiliates to be used for breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs. Massage for the Cure is a national event, with an expected 620 Massage Envy centers across 42 states participating. This will be the sixth consecutive year Massage Envy has hosted this event - contributing $1.4 million to the fight against breast cancer. To be a part of Massage for the Cure, simply call your local Massage Envy starting August 14th and make an appointment for a $49, one-hour massage on September 14th.

October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The San Diego Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is quite busy in October with public appearances and speeches at third party events, lunch and learn educational programs at major San Diego companies and rallying registration efforts for the November 7, 2010 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®. See our website http://www.komensandiego.org for events throughout the month.

October 1: Race Kickoff Cocktails for the Cure Party
The San Diego Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® kicks off its largest fundraising event of the year and honors sponsors, advocates and volunteers at this celebratory cocktail party on Friday, October 1. Location and time TBA.

October 16: Del Mar Concours d’Elegance Charity Dinner Gala
Saturday Evening, October 16, 2010, will see a charity benefit gala to be held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Racetrack facility. The show will provide direct benefit to the San Diego chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, which raises funds and awareness for breast cancer research and prevention. For more information, please visit http://www.delmarconcours.com/complete-event-details

October 16 and 17: Survivor Crop 2 Hour Scrapbook Marathon
Do you have what it takes to be the Ultimate Survivor or part of the Ultimate Surviving Island? The Survivor Crop 24 Hour Scrapbook Marathon is one of the San Diego affiliate’s largest fundraisers. Committed and talented women stay up all night in a warehouse scrapbooking and having lots of unique fun. This incredible event is sponsored by Ever After Scrapbooks. You and your friends will be cast away on an island with only scrapbooking supplies for 24 hours! For more information or to register for this event please visit, http://www.survivorcrop.com/.

October 31: Row for the Cure®
Pattie Pinkerton, head coach for UCSD's Women’s Rowing, presents the 9th annual Row for the Cure! Rowers and Kayakers of all levels are welcome - you can even sit on a barge and watch the Row go by! Costs range from $25 - $90 depending on whether you're rowing as an individual or on a team, kayaking or observing on the barge. The competition is 2,000 meters or approximately 1.5 miles.

November 7: 2010 Komen San Diego Race for the Cure®
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. For race information and registration please visit, http://www.komensandiego.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/

Press Contact:
Rachel Wiley
Olive PR Solutions, Inc.
350 West Ash St. #103
San Diego, CA 92101
717-676-8198
rachel@oliveprsolutions.com
http://www.komensandiego.org