Five Simultaneous Races Mark Eve of Breast Cancer Awareness Month
WASHINGTON, DC – September 24, 2009 – A sea of pink t-shirts will stretch from Athens to Bologna to Frankfurt to Zurich to Antwerp on September 27 in an effort to raise public awareness about breast cancer. In five cities across Europe, breast cancer survivors, their families, friends, supporters and advocates will join forces in a show of strength, courage and solidarity.
These events, part of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Series, are led by local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in each prospective country and supported by Samsung, the official European Race for the Cure sponsor and supporter of breast cancer charities throughout Europe.
“I know first-hand that early detection can save your life,” said Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founding chair of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control. “With nearly half-a-million women around the globe dying from breast cancer each year, together we can break the silence, raise awareness about this devastating disease and ultimately save lives.”
Snapshot of European Races
Susan G. Komen Deutschland® will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Frankfurt Race along the Rhine River, where rowers will simultaneously take part in Row for the Cure. Susan G. Komen Italia’s® third Bologna Race for the Cure® includes an Early Detection Day where underserved women will be offered free mobile mammograms.
With the Acropolis as a backdrop, Athens will host the Greece Race for the Cure®, organized by the Pan-Hellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer “Alma Zois”, a breast cancer advocacy and support group that helps women through their treatment and promotes early detection. The Belgium Race for the Cure® is a collaboration between Komen and Think-Pink, a national breast cancer organization that successfully manages multi-media breast cancer awareness campaigns and will soon expand its services to patient outreach and support. And, Switzerland’s Race will benefit Krebsliga Schweiz’s breast cancer prevention campaign.
For more details on these and other international Races, visit www.komen.org/AboutUs/InternationalRaces.html.
History of Komen Race for the Cure® Series
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Series originated 26 years ago in Dallas, Texas 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 organized the first Race for the Cure event in 1983 in Dallas, 800 people participated. Thanks to the interest, hard work and collaboration of a variety of 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 around the world. This year, 136 Races will be held worldwide, attracting more than 1.5 million participants and over 100,000 volunteers.
“I never dreamt that from a shoebox of names would grow the world’s largest breast cancer awareness event,” added Brinker. “I am deeply humbled today as survivors and advocates walk together through Athens, Bologna, Frankfurt, Zurich and Antwerp and join our mission to end breast cancer.”
