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Komen Tulsa Race for The Cure(R) 2006 Sets $600,000 Goal for Breast Cancer

Posted on: Tuesday, 18 July 2006, 15:01 CDT

TULSA, Okla., July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- In light of last year's record- smashing effort, the Tulsa Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation today announced an aggressive financial goal of $600,000 for the Komen Tulsa Race for the Cure(R) 2006. Scheduled for Saturday, September 16, 2006 in Tulsa, the Race for the Cure(R) is the organization's largest annual fundraising event to help fund breast cancer education, screening treatment and research.

The $600,000 goal, an increase of 9 percent over last year's proceeds, was revealed at a press conference held today by the local Komen affiliate and Race for the Cure(R) organizers at Carrabba's Italian Grill, 4848 S. Yale, in conjunction with a thank-you luncheon for event sponsors.

"The Komen Foundation and Race for the Cure(R) are making great strides in Tulsa," said Chris Payne, Affiliate President. "We are proud of the fact that we were able to break the half-million-dollar mark, bringing in $546,000 from Race for the Cure(R) and other events last year. This is a significant increase of 27.3 percent over the previous year. We are thankful to the Tulsa community for helping us to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. As a result, we have awarded $368,500 in grants to Tulsa-area non- profits this year which is helping us to fulfill Komen's mission of eradicating breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Last year, we provided mammograms to 1,574 low-income women in Tulsa, and detected 42 cases of breast cancer. Through our efforts, we are saving lives. We are asking Tulsans to partner with us again by participating in the Race for the Cure(R) this year as a runner, walker or supporter."

According to Payne, last year's efforts were such a high-water mark for the organization that they were able to hire the organization's first executive director in April. "Until now, Komen Tulsa has been a 100-percent volunteer-run organization and we've moved mountains," said Payne. "With the hiring of Christy Southard as executive director, we are going to leverage our strengths to become an even stronger local organization. Christy is a former Race for the Cure(R) chairman, and she brings strong leadership skills to the position, as well as having family ties to breast cancer. In addition to strengthening relationships with other cancer-fighting organizations and Komen supporters in Tulsa, Christy will also focus on expanding Komen's educational efforts in our local community. This is a very exciting opportunity for us as we work to educate various groups of women about the importance of early breast cancer detection."

"We are making a difference," said Southard. "The good news is that survival rates of women have improved 15 percent in the last five years among women who have breast cancer. And this improvement can be attributed to many factors, but awareness and education are key."

Of the total funds raised from Race for the Cure(R), up to 75 percent of net proceeds will fund local area breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs for the medically underserved; up to 25 percent will help fund the national Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Research Program.

With a goal of 7,500 runners and walkers, Komen Tulsa will host the run again at CityPlex Towers, a change that proved popular among attendees last year. "We surveyed participants, and they were wildly enthusiastic about the change to CityPlex Towers," said Margaret King, Race Co-Chair along with Jill Corey. "They liked the wide open spaces, improved parking and the new race course along Riverside. We feel so strongly about our new relationship with CityPlex Towers that we have relocated the Komen Tulsa office so that we can be on-site year-round. We are looking forward to a long relationship with CityPlex Towers."

The 5K racecourse starts east of Lewis on 81st Street, proceeding west on 81st Street, then south on Riverside for about one mile, before looping back and finishing at the starting line. The 1-mile Fun Run starts at the same spot, but turns around before reaching Riverside, ending at the starting line.

Last year, approximately 6,500 participants raised $546,000 in corporate and personal contributions, and provided valuable volunteer hours. In 2006, grants totaling $368,500 were awarded to a variety of qualified Tulsa-area organizations including Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa; Tulsa Project Woman, Inc.; and Y-Me, Northeastern Oklahoma Affiliate. In addition, Komen Tulsa contributed $111,235 to national breast cancer research.

Today, one in seven women will have breast cancer sometime during their lifetime. In 2006, an estimated 212,920 new invasive cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the U.S., with more than 40,970 expected to die. Breast cancer is the leading cancer site among American women, second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths.

2006 Komen Tulsa Race for the Cure(R)

This year's Race for the Cure(R) in Tulsa is expected to attract 7,500 runners, walkers and volunteers. The 5K (3.1 mile) Run/Fitness Walk and 1-Mile Fun Run will take place Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006, with opening ceremonies beginning at 8 a.m. The Race will take place at CityPlex Towers, 2488 E. 81st Street.

"We are expecting huge crowds this year," said Jill Corey, Race Co-Chair. "Forty percent of last year's participants were first-timers, and most have indicated that they plan to participate again. About 25 percent of attendees have participated in the Race for the Cure three times or more, so there is a lot of loyalty in Tulsa for Race for the Cure. We are on-track to achieve record levels of runners and walkers in 2006."

Organizers are also counting on the goodwill of Race participants, survivor families and Tulsa-area doctors to help raise additional funds. Some of the special fundraising programs this year include:

* Sleepwalkers: With a contribution of $30, participants can support the Race without leaving the comfort of their own bed. Register online at http://www.rfctulsa.org/ and Sleepwalkers will receive a T-shirt after the Race. * Online donations: Visitors to http://www.rfctulsa.org/ can set up their own personalized online donation page; they can send invitations to their friends and family to make contributions using a credit card via this secure Web link. * Doctors for the Cure(R): Doctors can show support for their patients with breast cancer; with a $200 contribution, they receive one Race entry, a special Doctors for the Cure(R) t-shirt, public recognition and admission to the Survivor breakfast. Contact Mary Ellen Bridwell at 918-857-4969 for information. * Friends for the Cure(R) Donation Program: Every Race participant can raise money by collecting tax deductible donations from friends, family, neighbors and co-workers. All who participate, including corporate team members, are eligible for prizes based on individual donations collected.

Komen Tulsa Race for the Cure(R) sponsors include presenting sponsors Cancer Treatment Centers of America and KTUL-TV, Oklahoma's Channel 8. They are joined by platinum sponsors CityPlex Towers, Softrock 92.9 KBEZ, KHITS, KVOO and McDonald's of Oklahoma; gold sponsors Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and TulsaPeople magazine; silver sponsors Oklahoma Magazine and Tulsa Promenade; and bronze sponsors Breast Surgery of Tulsa, Cancer Care Associates, Cherokee Casino and Resort, Hillcrest Medical Center, Samson, SouthCrest Hospital, Tulsa Oilers, Tulsa Medical Laboratory, LLC, Tulsa World, Williams and Wingway Race Consultants.

Margaret King and Jill Corey, long-time supporters and volunteers of Race for the Cure(R), are serving as Race Co-Chairs for 2006.

For race registration information, sign up on-line at http://www.rfctulsa.org/ , or call the Race Hotline at 918-744-5099.

The Komen Race for the Cure(R) Series is the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world, with 113 Races in the U.S. and three international Races. More than 1.5 million participants are expected in 2006. Since 1982, the Komen Foundation has raised more than $750 million for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment.

Tulsa Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

CONTACT: Chris Payne of Tulsa Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen BreastCancer Foundation, +1-918-669-2236, or cellular, +1-918-760-7169, orchris.payne@dtag.com

Web site: http://www.rfctulsa.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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