Dallas-Based Breast Cancer Organization Honors Work of 125 Affiliates DALLAS – March 24, 2010 – Under the rallying cry of “Impact. Make One,” nearly 1,000 breast cancer advocates, survivors and partners gathered in Dallas to share inspiration, knowledge and strategic plans to realize the vision of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, of a world without breast cancer.
The gathering also served as the launch platform for a new book,
Promise Me: How a Sister’s Love Launched the Global Movement to End Breast Cancer , by Komen founder and CEO Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker. The book, available for pre-order through online retailers, chronicles the Promise that Brinker made to her sister, Susan G. Komen, and Brinker’s courageous journey to launch the global breast cancer movement in 1982. For more information go to
komen.org/promiseme.
Since 1982, Komen has played a critical role in every major advance in the fight against breast cancer transforming how the world talks about and treats this disease and helping to turn millions of breast cancer patients into breast cancer survivors. Since its inception, there has been significant progress, including a 98 percent five-year survival rate for breast cancer, when caught early before it spreads beyond the breast, compared to 74 percent in 1982.
At the conference, Brinker urged attendees to continue to lead the breast cancer fight in their local communities.
“Last year alone, Susan G. Komen for the Cure provided funding for nearly 500,000 screenings. These led to 5,000 women being diagnosed with breast cancer and able to begin treatment,” said Brinker. “At the same time, demand for our work is growing, and needs are going unmet. Last year, our Komen Helpline received an 86 percent increase in requests for financial assistance. But we only had the funds to help 1 out of 8 callers.”
Komen for the Cure hosted its annual Affiliate Leadership Conference Mar. 18-20 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. The three-day event united nearly 1,000 Komen for the Cure U.S. and international advocates, including 200 breast cancer survivors, and representatives from the more than 200 corporations and non-governmental organizations who partner with Komen.
Attendees also heard from Komen chief scientific advisor, Dr. Eric P. Winer, director of the Breast Oncology Center and the Thompson Senior Investigator of breast cancer research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In addition to Komen leadership, conference-goers received fundraising and community outreach guidance from Affiliate representatives and were energized by Rene Syler, nationally-known TV personality and Komen celebrity ambassador.
Introduced at the 2008 conference, attendees at this year’s all-day Public Policy Forum learned about the expanding role of Komen’s advocacy work under the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance, the organization’s 501(c)(4) entity. Throughout the past year, Komen advocates across the country have worked tirelessly to increase government investment in vital programs to close the gaps in research and access to breast health services that prevent people from getting the care they need.
Komen presented a number of awards, each bestowed annually, to recognize the extraordinary efforts of Komen advocates who selflessly commit their lives to serving those affected by breast cancer.
