2008 Komen San Diego Race for the Cure

It was a great day for a three mile walk with over 10,000 people sharing the same goal: to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure here in beautiful San Diego. The clouds were dark and ominous, but the rain stayed away during the event held in Balboa Park. For those not familiar with this major fundraiser, the Komen Race for the Cure raises money by having groups and individuals pay an entry fee, and the challenge of raising an additional $125 in donations which would cover the cost of a mammogram.

A lot of money is raised, of which 75% of the net proceeds stays in San Diego to support the uninsured and under insured individuals touched by breast cancer in the areas of diagnostics, screening, treatment, services and education. The remaining 25% is used to support national research. The 2008 goal of $650,000 was exceeded by raising over $814,797, with more than 490 teams participating, and more than 10,660 people and their pets taking to the streets for this worthy cause.

The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman’s life is about 1 in 8. It is essential that women and their loved ones know that early detection is the key to surviving breast cancer. There are three simple steps to ensure that if you are the 1 in 8 to be diagnosed, you and or your doctor will find it in its earliest stages.

Three Steps to Breast Health:

1. Starting at age 40*, have an annual screening mammography. *Some women with a family history of breast cancer or other concerns may be advised by a trained medical professional to start earlier than age 40.
2. At age 20 – and at least every three years – have a clinical breast exam by a healthcare professional. Women age 40 and over should have a clinical breast exam every year.
3. At age 20, begin doing monthly breast self-exams.

Save your life or that of someone you love by practicing the 3 Steps to Breast Health and encouraging loved ones to do the same. Although the Komen Race for the Cure has just passed, their next big event is the Komen 3-Day, which is a 3 day walk which covers 60 miles, Nov. 21-23, 2008 through the streets of San Diego. This is an amazing event for both the participants and the thousands who line the sidewalks of the course to show their support. Still, the cause continues and needs community support. Here is a brief history of Komen for the Cure:

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure® and the Breast Cancer 3-Day, the organization has invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill its promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1.877 GO KOMEN.