Komen for the Cure

Race for the Cure officials hope new location won't limit participation

​Changes are being made for this year's Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Raleigh, but fundraiser officials hope a location swap won't limit the number of participants.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Changes are being made for this year’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Raleigh, but fundraiser officials hope a location swap won’t limit the number of participants.

“We're having the best time planning a whole new race because we're moving to a new site this year,” said Pam Kohl, executive director.

The Komen Race for the Cure was held at Meredith College last year, but the event will move to RTP this year.

Officials said 8,200 people participated in 2015 but they are worried about a drop off in this year’s numbers.
       

“When we started this race 20 years ago, we were the only game in town,” Kohl said. “Now, almost every weekend there's another race.”

After 19 years at Meredith College, Kohl said some runners also might be hesitant about the new venue, but is hopeful they’ll be on board.

“Right now it's a little down, but we think next week people will start to get very excited,” she said.

Komen Community Health Director Julie McQueen said the race brings in money to pay for important services for women.

Seventy-five percent of the proceeds from the race will be sent to local communities to support breast health programs.

“It might pay for a woman to get a mammogram that might otherwise not be able to have one,” McQueen said. “It might pay for a woman with a bad mammogram to go back in and have a biopsy.”

The remainder of the funds will go to Komen's national research grant program, which has provided nearly $4 million for breast cancer research at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

McQueen and Kohl, both breast cancer survivors, say they are two examples of the way Komen is saving lives and that participating in the Race for the Cure is one way to help.

“That's our biggest fundraiser, and that makes a huge difference in who we're able to help,” McQueen said.

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