Thousands Marched To Make The World Breast Cancer-Free

Thousands of breast cancer survivors, co-survivors, celebrities and activists on Saturday gathered to participate in the 2008 Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure, the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.

The race that attracted 14,500 people for various walking and running events brought in a record amount of money. According to Erica Stelling, spokeswoman for the Susan G. Komen St. Louis affiliate, about $3.3 million is raised from the race. Last year, $2.6 million was raised by about 66,000 participants.

Three-quarters of the net proceeds or 75 percent would be used for helping women pay for mammograms, while the other quarter or 25 percent of the money raised goes to the national Komen foundation to find a cure.

The 15th annual Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure events included 550 teams ranging from small family groups to huge company-backed organizations as well as thousands of cancer survivors, their supporters and athletes. Hundreds more came to volunteer and cheer sponsors' booths at the event that included a 5K co-ed race, a 5K women's race, a 5K walk and a children's run. Most of the race events began on First Avenue South.

More than 4,000 breast cancer survivors, dressed in pink in show of support against the disease, participated in the St. Louis’ Survivor Procession. The participants were joined by thousands of supporters for the race on Saturday.

In Seattle, the non-competitive race raised more than $1.65 million, which represents 14 to 18 percent of the funds raised.

The Lexington Legends also took part in the Komen race. Wearing pink to show support the fight against breast cancer, the team raised $3,940 from its Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Silent Auction during the "Think Pink" event.

"We do a lot of crazy and goofy things at the ballpark," said Legends General Manager Andy Shea. "But when we're able to provide events such as our ‘Think Pink' event it is truly special and truly rewarding."

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the only organization that fights to cure breast cancer at every stage. The foundation is the world’s largest, boldest and most progressive grassroots network of survivors and activists that works to save lives and energize science to find a cure. It also promotes breast cancer screenings and early detection.

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure foundation has invested $1 billion in research, education and health services till date, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

The Susan G. Komen race began more than two decades ago in Dallas with 800 runners and now has more than 110 races nationwide each year. The Komen Race for the Cure series raises funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women. It is a malignant form of tumor spreading quickly to the bones, hips, lungs and in some, the brain. One in ten women is likely to develop breast cancer and almost 75% would do so after menopause. Besides hereditary or genetic factors, some other causes of this form of tumor are early puberty, late menopause, not having a child or having a first child after age 30. Risk is considerably lowered if one has short menstrual life, large family or first child before the age of 18.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the two most familiar breast cancer genes, which cause a quarter of hereditary cases. Besides accounting for 15% of all breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are associated with increased risk of variety of other cancer including ovarian cancer.

The Susan G. Komen foundation has described the breast cancer on its Website as a type of cancer where cells in the breast tissue divide and grow without the normal control. About 85% of breast cancers originate in the mammary ducts, while about 15% breed in the lobules. Cancerous tumors in the breast usually grow very slowly so that by the time one is large enough to be felt as a lump, it may have been growing for as long as ten years, the foundation says on its site.

According to the American Cancer Society, about 182,460 women in the United States are expected to receive diagnoses of invasive breast cancer this year. Breast cancer engulfs an estimated 500,000 lives a year globally, the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) data suggests.