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The mission of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.

Description:
KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE®
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure® Series raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. These events celebrate breast cancer survivorship and honor those who have lost their battle with the disease. The largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world, the Komen Race for the Cure® Series has grown from one local Race with 800 participants in Dallas, Texas, in 1983 to a series of more than 100 Races with 1.5 million people expected to participate in 2003. At each Race event, breast cancer survivors in pink caps and pink T-shirts are celebrated and honored for their strength and courage.

History:
Nancy Goodman Brinker
Founder

In 1980, Nancy Brinker lost her sister and best friend, Susan Goodman Komen, to breast cancer at the age of 36. She left behind not only her loving sister and parents, but also a husband and two young children. As Nancy watched her die, she wondered how this could happen in one of the most medically advanced countries in the world.

In the last months of Susan's life, Nancy made a promise to her sister: she would dedicate the rest of her life to eradicating breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.

In 1982, Nancy Brinker established the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation with only a few hundred dollars of her own and a shoe box full of friends' names. Two short years later, Nancy discovered her own breast cancer. Through Susan's experience, Nancy learned to take charge of her own health and sought the most advanced treatment options available.

Today, the Komen Foundation is a leader in the field of breast cancer education, screening and treatment - and is the largest private funding source for breast cancer research and community outreach programs. By the end of 2000, the Komen Foundation and its Affiliates will have raised in excess of $300 million since its inception. Key to its success is the Komen Race for the Cure®, the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world. This event, created by Nancy, has grown from one local race with 800 participants to a national series of more than 100 Races with more than 1 million participants in 2000.

As a result of her efforts, Nancy has expanded her role outside of the Komen Foundation in a legislative capacity serving under three U.S. Presidents on the National Cancer Advisory Board, and testifying before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies in 2000. She has also testified before the United States Democratic Policy Committee's Congressional Breast Cancer Forum, participated in the International Women's Forum, and is a Collaborating Partner for the National Dialogue on Cancer.

Nancy is the recipient of numerous national awards including: Ladies' Home Journal's 100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century, Biography Magazine's The 25 Most Powerful Women in America, 1999 Caring Award, 2000 Cino del Duca Award, was inducted into the Cancer Research and Treatment Fund, Inc. Cancer Survivors Hall of Fame, the first Solomon Smith Barney Extraordinary Achievement Award, the James Ewing Layman Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology, Albert Einstein's Sarnoff Volunteer Award, Ladies' Home Journal Top 10 Champions of Women's' Health among many others.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, Nancy is a graduate of the University of Illinois, and is the author of The Race is Run One Step at a Time and co-author of 1000 Questions About Women's Health.

Taken from http://www.komen.org/SGK/nancy_brinker.asp

Contact people:

Stacey Clark, Volunteer Coordinator, (email) Staci Fields, Volunteer Coordinator, (email) Kim Sweazy, (email)

Office fax number: (859) 281-5900

Address:

P.O. Box 998 Lexington, KY 40588

Web Site: http://www.komenlexington.org