Running to Save Lives and Celebrate Life
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure®

Story and Photos by Vivienne Mackie

The Foundation says, “Walk. Get Inspired. Get Involved. Join more than one million participants worldwide, and make a difference.”

St Louis, Missouri, USA: June 12th, 2004

If collective human energy can make a difference, then this event will help achieve change. We can feel the energy vibrating through the streets of St Louis, as 55,000-plus runners and walkers, and all the thousands of sponsors and organizers, focus their efforts on this common goal: How to find a cure for this deadly disease, which can, and does, strike indiscriminately, regardless of age or race.

Our family participated in this run and walk two years ago, but we see today that an already big event got much bigger. The many sponsors (including such diverse ones as the St Louis Post Dispatch, Anheuser-Busch, KEZK 102.5 soft rock, St Louis Bread Co, Yoplait, Ford, New Balance, Silk Soymilk) have set up tents, booths, and stalls around the square downtown close to City Hall, and along the blocked-off streets near the starting area.

People mill around, unsure of where to go. The runners walk in the general direction of the starting point, and I assume they go, even though I don’t hear a start gun. I am a walker, one of so many that we can’t tell if we’ve reached the beginning yet. I, and thousands of others, just flow along in the sea of people, down this street, then on that one, and at some point we realize that we must be on the official walk. We shuffle along, as the streets are too crowded to actually race.

The city is awash in pink, and bunny ears. Pink balloons, pink banners, pink signs. Individuals, groups; young, old; men, women; in-shape and not, are all out there trying. Many groups are walking together for a special person, her name on a banner or placard, united by this common bond and by their special group T-shirts. Pink signs pinned on backs proclaim, “I’m running in memory of (Jenny)”, “(Mary T) is a survivor”, or “I’m racing for my wife/mother/sister”. One said, “I’m racing for me. I’m a survivor”.

The energy, goodwill and determination flow with the river of bodies, heart-warming. There is something uplifting and exhilarating about being part of such a huge group, all out this morning with a common purpose. There’s something very touching about a band of young musicians on one corner, serenading the passing crowd, and the lone kilted piper standing on the edge of the Mississippi River, piping, smiling, cheering everyone on.

Our family all finish well, although that was not the real reason for entering. Kids run under sprinkling fire hoses, set up by the Fire Department, or pose with members of the local Rams Football team. People grab another bottle of water, eat a banana, or are enticed into indulging in a free hamburger, the smell of barbecuing meat wafting over the sidewalks.

We remember those who’ve died from breast cancer, and are grateful for those still surviving. Hopefully, lots of money was raised today to help those to come. This year the race was on June 18th, 2005. www.komenstlouis.org

Background Information:

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at age 36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a network of volunteers working through local Affiliates (there are more than 100 in USA) and Komen Race for the Cure® events to advance breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment. International Affiliates are in Germany, Italy and Puerto Rico. The series of races raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer and celebrates breast cancer survivorship. Many of the local Affiliates use the proceeds from the race to fund both national research efforts and local breast cancer initiatives.

The races mostly take place in the summer between May and September or October. This year (2005) Chicago’s was on October 1st, as a kick-off for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. (See www.chicagoraceforthecure.org)

In the USA the races range across the whole country, from Washington DC (16th annual on June 4th, www.nationalraceforthecure.org) to Indianapolis, Fort Lauderdale, Salt Lake City (www.komenslc.org), San Francisco (www.sfkomen.org) and many more.

The Foundation’s main web site is information-packed, www.komen.org. You can find the nearest Komen Race for the Cure® event in the USA by typing in your zip code. Read a message from the founder, learn about new research findings, get information about risk factors and the anatomy of this disease. There is also a very helpful Support Message Board.

Note: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, now in its second decade, and promoted by 17 major national nonprofit cancer organizations. Web: www.nbcam.org.