Started in Dallas, Texas in 1982, today the Komen Race for the Cure® Series is the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world.
The Komen Louisville Race for the Cure is organized by the Louisville Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The 2005 Komen Louisville Race for the Cure, the organization's largest fundraiser, raised in excess of $400,000 and had over 8,000 participants. Registration is officially open and available online at ://www.louisvilleraceforthecure.org/ [4] or in person at the Komen Store upstairs in Oxmoor Center.
According to Race Chair, Barb Lasky, "We are at 7,000 + participants with a week of registration to go and we have a record number of teams this year. We could very easily reach our goal of 10,000 participants." There are two exciting additions to this year's Race. One is Ribbons of Hope, a ribbon-shaped hot air balloon specially designed to celebrate cancer survivors and research. The second is Visions of Hope, an interactive exhibit provided by sponsor AstraZeneca. Visitors are encouraged to take a "swing" at the pink punching bag to represent the fight against breast cancer. Jockey and breast cancer survivor PJ Cooksey will be on hand to throw out the first punch. In addition, the exhibit offers photo opportunities and much more.
Seventy-five percent of the monies raised stay locally to fund education and increase awareness of breast cancer as well as to provide screening and treatment for the medically underserved in the community. The remaining twenty-five percent of the proceeds from the Race will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation National Grant and Awards Program.
Projects selected for Komen Foundation funding focus on the mission to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. For more than 20 years, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has been a global leader in the fight against breast cancer through its support of innovative research and community-based outreach programs.
In addition to raising funds, the Komen Race for the Cure® Series is committed to educating the public about early detection, the strongest method of surviving this life-threatening disease. The five-year survival rate is 95 percent when the disease is discovered while still confined to the breast.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died of breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Komen Foundation remains a forerunner in the fight against breast cancer and has raised nearly $600 million nationally, including nearly $2 million locally, since its inception.