International Races

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Series originated 26 years ago in Dallas, Texas, USA, and is recognized as the world’s largest and most successful series of 5K run/fitness walk events designed to raise public awareness of breast cancer. When Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founding chair of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, organized the first Race for the Cure event in 1983 in Dallas, she didn’t know that her revolutionary concept would be so popular. From the first event’s 800 participants, the concept has now expanded to annual Races that attract more than 1.5 million participants and over 100,000 volunteers in 122 locations in the US and 14 internationally.

Thanks to the interest, hard work and collaboration of a variety of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), governmental agencies, and individuals who want to make a difference in breast cancer mortality rates, Komen Race for the Cure events are being organized in places throughout the world Ambassador Brinker never dreamed of 26 years ago.

In addition to the seven international Races conducted by our Komen Affiliates in Germany, Italy and Puerto Rico, Komen is currently collaborating with select NGOs in Europe, Africa (North and Sub-Saharan) and Western Asia to host co-branded, culturally appropriate Races. In total, 136 Races will be held worldwide in 2009.

International Race Dates

The following international races are currently scheduled. Click on the country name for more information.

International Affiliates

Name/Contact: Komen Deutschland e.V., Louisenstr. 28, 61348 Bad Homburg, Germany; +49 61-7268-1060
Website/E-mail: www.komen.de / www.raceforthecure.de  / info@komen.de
Komen Deutschland e.V. was established as a Susan G. Komen for the Cure Affiliate in 1999/2000. Komen Deutschland e.V. held its first Race for the Cure® in August 2000 in Frankfurt, which has grown over the last 8 years and now celebrates more than 400 breast cancer survivors. The Affiliate plans to expand its Race series to Cologne in 2009. In addition to holding the Race for the Cure each year, the Affiliate has grown the Pink Tie Ball into its largest fundraiser.

Name/Contact: Komen Italia onlus, Via Venanzio Fortunato, 55, 00136 Rome, Italy; +39.06.30.50.988
Website/Email: www.komen.it / www.raceforthecure.it  / komenitalia@komen.it
Komen Italia began with their “Educational Program in Breast Cancer in Italy” in 1999 and became an Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 1999/2000. In May 2000, Komen Italia conducted its first Race for the Cure® in Rome, the first ever held in Europe, and now, 8 years later, celebrates more than 2,000 breast cancer survivors. In 2007, the Komen Italia Race series expanded to Bari and Bologna with approximately 4,500 participants at each new Race. The day before each Race, an Early Detection Village provides free breast cancer screening to women. Doctors and technicians volunteer their time to screen women who otherwise would not be able to afford the exams.

Name/Contact: Puerto Rico Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure; Doral Bldg., Suite 200, 650 Muñoz Rivera Ave., 00918 San Juan, Puerto Rico; 787- 751-9096 or 787-282-6611
Website/Email: www.komenpr.org / mortiz@komenpr.org
The Puerto Rico Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure was established in March 2003 and held its first Race for the Cure in October 2005 in San Juan. The Race has experienced steady growth during the last 4 years and now celebrates more than 300 breast cancer survivors. In 2006, Komen Puerto Rico launched an extensive educational outreach program called Banderas. The main goal of Banderas is to create educational links with different groups of the community, such as schools, organizations, corporations, and government entities. Banderas is also used as a tool to recruit new volunteers, trainers, and breast health educators in order to spread breast health messages even further.

NGO-Hosted Races

Belgium – v.z.w. Think-Pink is a Brussels-based national breast cancer organization founded in 2007. Think-Pink works with both national and local breast cancer organizations while also receiving support from the National Cancer Institute. During the last two years, Think-Pink has successfully managed breast cancer awareness campaigns on television and the internet, in magazines and through local activities. The organization’s focus is to raise breast cancer awareness among Belgian women and will begin conducting outreach to breast cancer survivors in the future.

The Belgium Race for the Cure®, a collaboration between Think-Pink and Susan G Komen for the Cure, will take place in Antwerp on September 27, 2009. For more details about participating in this Race or supporting Think-Pink, please visit www.raceforthecure.be .

Greece - The Pan-Hellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer “Alma Zois” was founded in 1988 by breast cancer survivors who aspired to offer to other survivors the necessary support for dealing with their illness and achieving a better quality of life. In the last 20 years, the Association has grown and numbers 1,200 survivor members and many associate (non-survivor) members. The Board of Directors consists of seven members, all of whom are breast cancer survivors. The Association’s scientific work is designed by full-time mental health professionals and is approved by a 23-member multidisciplinary Scientific Committee.

Their vision is to offer every woman in Greece information on breast cancer prevention and early detection and full psychosocial support to every woman who deals with breast cancer. Alma Zois provides many services including organized peer support, psychosocial support to breast cancer patients and their families, breast cancer awareness campaigns and advocacy campaigns for the breast cancer patient’s rights.

The Greece Race for the Cure®, a collaboration between Alma Zois and Susan G Komen for the Cure®, will take place in Athens on September 27, 2009. For more information about participating in this Race or supporting Alma Zois, please visit www.raceforthecure-greece.blogspot.com  and www.almazois.gr .

Bosnia & Herzegovina - Established in 1995, the Women’s Health Empowerment Program (WHEP) is an innovative overseas public education movement that encourages the early detection of breast cancer—when it is treated more easily. WHEP is a partnership between the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC),an overseas humanitarian aid organization that works in over 70 countries and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. WHEP was re-launched in Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2004 through this partnership. The Program builds leadership, creates new services (such as support groups and hotlines), strengthens doctor-patient communication, and facilitates partnerships among government agencies, NGOs and the medical and health community.

The 2nd annual Bosnia & Herzegovina Race for the Cure®, a collaboration between JDC and Susan G Komen for the Cure, will take place in Sarajevo on October 3, 2009. View the flyer for the Race .

For more information about participating in this Race or supporting WHEP, please visit sarajevoraceforthecure09.blogspot.com .

Egypt - The Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt (BCFE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting breast cancer in Egypt. BCFE is registered under the Ministry of Social Solidarity. The organization’s ultimate objective is life without breast cancer. BCFE started its work with the community in 2004 by targeting women from all social and economic strata. Individually, they represent health care professionals, breast cancer survivors, and local advocates. Collectively, they are a driving force to bring breast cancer awareness, education, and screening to Egyptian women. BCFE’s services include breast cancer awareness, early detection and patient programs as well as support groups.

The Egypt Race for the Cure®, a collaboration between the Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt and Susan G Komen for the Cure®, will take place at the Pyramids of Giza on October 24, 2009. For more information about participating in this Race or supporting the Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt, please visit www.bcfe.org.

Switzerland – The Swiss Race for the Cure®, a collaboration between 2C Communication and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, will take place in Zurich on September 27, 2009. Krebsliga Schweiz, the national cancer society that funds research, provides support to cancer patients and their families, and conducts awareness programs for all cancers, will conduct breast cancer prevention campaigns with proceeds from the Race. For information about participating in this Race or the Pink Ribbon campaign, please visit www.pr.2ccom.ch.