Around 1995, as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
continued to broaden its scope across the nation, three Tulsa residents (Barbara
Schwartz, Susan Ford Bales and Bill Donahue) determined the national fight
against breast cancer should be brought to Tulsa, Oklahoma. This trio knew that
creating a team to pull off such an event was crucial. One man stood out as the preeminent figure in
Tulsa to approach about becoming Race Director.
That man was Jack Wing.
His experience as Race Director for the Tulsa Run, as well
as other 5K’s in and around Tulsa, made him the ideal candidate for the
job. Jack Wing knew how to put on a road
race! He accepted their challenge and immediately
went to work.
For each of the past fourteen years of the Tulsa Affiliate’s
Race for the Cure, Jack has enthusiastically performed his duties as Race
Director. In addition to his various
roles behind the scene, Jack can be found at the finish line behind the
microphone, cheering participants to finish strong. Breast cancer survivors and their supporters have
come to expect Jack’s familiar voice at the end of each Race for the Cure as
they run, walk or roll beneath the finish banner.
As we approach the 15th anniversary of Tulsa’s Race for the
Cure on September 17th, Jack has been busily planning the logistics of this
year’s Race. His perspective this year is
a little different. Jack has been waging
his own fight against cancer. His battle
is against multiple myeloma, a rare bone cancer. Now, more than ever, he appreciates that any
advancement in breast cancer research is an advancement for every cancer.
Jack has often said that he chose involvement with Susan G.
Komen for the Cure because he had a mother, he has a wife, he has daughter-in-laws
and he has a granddaughter - none of whom does he want to watch suffer at the
hands of breast cancer.
Our Race would not be what it is today without Jack and we
are pleased to present him with our first Promise of One award!
