Walk/run Events Provide Platform to Educate and Unite Women Against the Most Frequently Diagnosed Cancer in Women Worldwide
DALLAS – September 29, 2010 – Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, kicked off its fall global Komen Race for the Cure® Series with four Races in Frankfurt, Germany; Bologna, Italy; Antwerp, Belgium and Athens, Greece through its Affiliates and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners. These events were the first of ten Races taking place in nine countries over five weeks.
“Our international Race for the Cure events are crucial as we work with partners abroad to bring breast cancer education to countries around the world,” said Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founder and CEO of Komen. “In some countries, breast cancer is still taboo and events like the Race provide a venue for women to gather for support and reassurance that they are not in this fight alone.”
A sea of pink t-shirts will stretch from Frankfurt to Rio de Janeiro this fall as breast cancer survivors, their families, friends, supporters and advocates join forces in a show of strength, courage and solidarity.
Komen is debuting several new Races, including Susan G. Komen Italia’s fourth Race in Naples on October 10. Through partnerships with local NGOs, the first Race for the Cure in South America will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on October 24. The Israel Race for the Cure in Jerusalem on October 28 will be the culmination of the fall global series.
Four Races kicked off Sept. 26 in Frankfurt, Germany; Bologna, Italy; Athens, Greece, and Antwerp, Belgium. Still to come:
October 2
• The 3rd Bosnia and Herzegovina Race for the Cure in Sarajevo in partnership with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s Women’s Health Empowerment Program
October 10
• The 6th Susan G. Komen Puerto RicoRace for the Cure in San Juan
• The 1st Susan G. Komen Italia Race for the Cure in Naples
October 23
• The 2nd Egypt Race for the Cure at the Pyramids of Giza in partnership with the Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt
October 24
• The 1st Brazil Race for the Cure in Rio de Janeiro inpartnership with the Franco-Brazilian Oncology Society, Oncoguia, FEMAMA, Brazilian Mastectomy Society and the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology
October 28
• The 1st Israel Race for the Cure in Jerusalem in partnership with Hadassah Organization and the City of Jerusalem
These events, part of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Series, are led by local Komen Affiliates and NGOs in each country.
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 27 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, 141 Races will be held worldwide, attracting more than 1.6 million participants and more than 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 Antwerp, Athens, Bologna and Frankfurt and join our mission to end breast cancer.”
