New Ski for the Cure Program Raises Funds in the Fight Against Breast Cancer
The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF), host of the largest cross-country ski race in North America, and the Komen Foundation, host of the Race for the Cure® events held throughout the United States with more than 1.4 million participants a year, have collaborated to launch the Ski For the Cure! program to raise funds in the fight against breast cancer.
HAWYARD, WI (PRWEB) November 3, 2005
The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF), host of the largest cross-country ski race in North America, and the Komen Foundation, host of the Race for the Cure® events held throughout the United States with more than 1.4 million participants a year, have collaborated to launch the Ski For the Cure! program to raise funds in the fight against breast cancer.
Women and men across the country can support the Minnesota and Wisconsin Affiliates of the Komen Foundation by participating in the new program.
Donations collected by skiers will fund breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment.
Ned Zuelsdorff, Executive Director of the ABSF, said he’s excited about the collaboration.
“This is a great opportunity for women and men to support the leading Foundation devoted to eradicating breast cancer and to showcase her/his own commitment to health and wellness by training for and participating in this ski event,” Zuelsdorff said. “Whether participating on a competitive or non-competitive level, participants boost their own fitness level, contribute to an important cause, and have a whole lot of fun in the process. It's empowering and a win-win situation all the way around.”
David Egan, Operations Director, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Minnesota Affiliate, Komen Twin Cities Race for the Cure®, agrees.
“The Komen Minnesota Affiliate is proud to be a partner and recipient of participant pledge funds from the 2006 Birkie,” he said. “The Birkie is a great event, and we feel honored that they have chosen to support us in our race to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease through the advancement of research, screening, education and preliminary treatment. This gives our supporters another way to stay involved.”
Zuelsdorff said participating in the Ski for the Cure! program is simple. Donors register for the race or ski event of their choice: the 51 kilometer Subaru American Birkebeiner, 23 kilometer State Bank of Drummond/Cable Chamber of Commerce Kortelopet or 12 kilometer Johnson Bank Prince Haakon. All are held Saturday, February 25, 2006 in Cable and Hayward, Wis.
Donor/skiers voluntarily collect pledges and raise funds for the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Donations will be collected by the skier prior to the race and delivered to the ABSF at race registration/bib pickup.
Participants will receive pink ribbons with their race bibs and will designate which of the Madison, Milwaukee, Brainerd Lakes or Minnesota (based in Minneapolis) Affiliate(s) will receive their donation. The ABSF will send the donations to the chapter designated by the skier.
Pink bibs will be provided to skiers who identify themselves to the Birkie office by January 1, 2006, as breast cancer survivors.
The participating skier who raises the most money will reap the benefits: free entry into the 2007 American Birkebeiner race of their choice and free lodging at a premier bed & breakfast inn in Hayward. All skiers raising pledges of $100 or more will be part of a random drawing for a second similar prize. Various awards will be given to all skiers raising pledges at or above specific amounts.
Gail Sklodowska, member of the Communication & Education Committees of the Susan G. Komen Milwaukee Affiliate, said they are thrilled to be partnering with the ABSF to launch the Ski for the Cure! program.
“This is a wonderful partnership that will increase the awareness and funding for the fight against breast cancer,” she said. “We believe in the power of the individual to change the dismal statistics that one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes and one woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes in the United States. The Ski for the Cure program gives supporters another way to make a difference while helping all of us to live healthy and productive lives.”
Birkie 2006 festivities begin on Thursday, February 23 and continue through Saturday, February 25. In addition to the 51 kilometer Subaru American Birkebeiner and 23 kilometer State Bank of Drummond and Cable Area Chamber of Commerce Kortelopet and 12 kilometer Johnson Bank Print Haakon, Birkie 2006 features shorter races, events and festivities for more than 9,000 skiers and 15,000 spectators. Birkie festivities take place at Telemark Resort in Cable and on Main Street in Hayward.
The American Birkebeiner is part of the esteemed Worldloppet series of 14 international races, part of the International Ski Federation (FIS) Marathon Cup series of eight races, and part of the American Ski Marathon series of 11 races.
November 1 is the date of the next registration deadline and fee increase for the American Birkebeiner ski races. For more information or to register for Ski for the Cure!, call 715-634-5025 or log on to www. birkie. com.
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