Susan G. Komen Foundation's 16th Annual Race for the Cure Takes Place Sunday, September 24 Along San Francisco's Embarcadero
Susan G. Komen Foundation's 16th Annual Race for the Cure takes place Sunday, September 24 along San Francisco's Embarcadero.
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) September 6, 2006
The 16th annual Komen San Francisco Race for the Cure will take place this year on Sunday, September 24, 2006 at a new location along the Embarcadero, San Francisco. The new site is more visible than the previous location, bringing the possibility of raising more money to support breast cancer research, education and treatment. This 5K Run/Walk or 1 mile Fun Walk starts at 9am at the crosswalk at the SW corner of the Ferry Building. The run goes along the Embarcadero, around AT&T Park, and back along the Embarcadero.
Also new to the race this year: Kids for the Cure. Any child between the ages of 6 and 12 can register for only $10 and will receive a child-sized Race for the Cure T-shirt, available to the first 500 children registering.
Every registered participant receives an official Race T-shirt. Breast cancer survivors, who are the inspiration for the Race for the Cure, may pick up complimentary pink T-shirts and visors from the Survivor Booth on Race day. In addition, all Komen Race participants are encouraged to wear In Memory of and In Celebration of back signs, honoring loved ones for their strength and courage.
A special survivor recognition ceremony will be held in Justin Herman Plaza on Race day in front of the stage at 10:30am to honor all breast cancer survivors. The top three finishers in the Breast Cancer Survivor Division will receive commemorative awards donated by Mark Harrington Crystal, in addition to the first, second and third place finishing prizes. First Place Master Survivor (age 60-64) and First Place Senior Survivor (age 65+) will also receive special commemorative awards.
In addition to individual participants, teams are invited to compete in the following categories:
Fastest Team -- first and second place. Largest Team -- team with the most participants corporate/government, small business, family & friends, schools/education. Highest Fundraiser Team -- first and second place.
The goal of the 2006 Komen San Francisco Race for the Cure is to raise $100 per participant, the cost of a single mammogram. Money raised from last years race has been granted to 11 organizations in the 9 Bay Area counties and also has helped to create a program for free breast cancer screening and mammography services for uninsured Bay Area women.
“People taking this walk feel a sense of pride and accomplishment,” said Joni Cassell, the 2006 Race Chair. “It's physical and just the act of moving is a wired-in good feeling; we all were built to move. There's power in numbers. Seeing a group strive for a goal together, being part of that group; makes for an empowered feeling.”
The Komen Race for the Cure is unique in that it attracts people of all ages and fitness levels. Although most participants choose to walk or jog, elite runners are also drawn to the event. All courses are certified by the USA Track & Field (USATF), the national governing body for track and field, long distance running, race walking and cross-country events.
The 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 origination in 1983, the Komen Race for the Cure Series has grown from one local race in Dallas with 800 participants to a global series of more than 100 races with more than 1 million people participating. The Komen Race for the Cure Series has grown internationally with events in Italy, Germany, and Puerto Rico.
Funds raised during the Komen Race for the Cure Series support a variety of breast cancer research and patient support programs. Seventy-five percent of the net income from each Komen race stays in the local community of the Bay area's 9 counties to fund local breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment projects. A minimum of 25 percent of the net income supports the Komen Foundation Award and Research Grant Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards and educational and scientific conferences around the world.
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 2006 Race sponsors are:
Platinum: The Safeway Foundation; KGO Newstalk AM 810; ABC 7, KGO-TV. Diamond: Chevron; Fresh Express; GAP, Inc; San Francisco Magazine; Citigroup Smith Barney. Gold: Ann Getty & Associates; Brown & Toland Medical Group; Dockers San Francisco; Electronic Arts; Genentech; San Francisco 49ers; Seagate Technology. Silver: AMB Property Corporation; Breeder's Choice; California Pacific Medical Center Foundation; Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; PowerBar Pria®; Republic of Tea; SVB>Financial Group; Sports Basement. Bronze: Bear Stearns; Big O Tires; Dreyer's Fruit Bars; Goody StayPut®; Hana Bio Sciences, Inc.; Road Runner Sports; Shane Co.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Goodman Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan Goodman Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Komen Foundation is an international organization with a network of 75,000 active volunteers working through local Affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. For more information on breast health or breast cancer, please visit www. sfkomen. org or call the Foundations National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline at 1-800-IM AWARE (1-800-462-9273).
###
