Photos Provided by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
ICU Boobs, BUST-a-move, Jugg-r-nots, and UO Rack Pack are just a few of the team names you might see printed on t-shirts or pasted on signs hoisted high above the crowd outside Autzen Stadium this Sunday. Needless to say, it’ll be a slight departure from the usual Autzen weekend crowd.
This group, consisting of between 5,000 and 7,000 individuals, families, and teams, will gather outside the stadium Sunday, October 10th at 8:30 am to kick off Eugene’s first annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. They will be participating in one of four events including a 5K run and a one mile family walk.
“This event not only celebrates survivors, but also remembers those we’ve lost to breast cancer in the community,” says Suzanne Gorham, marketing director of Komen Oregon.
Each regional affiliate is allowed only one event every year, Gorham says, but this year for the first time Komen allowed the Oregon/Southwest Washington affiliate to hold a second event in Eugene because the need in Lane County is so great.
“Lane County has the second highest number of uninsured women in the state. That’s 34,000 uninsured women between the ages of 18 and 62,” Gorham says. “Part of the money we raise goes toward free mammograms for those who can’t afford them.”
Seventy-five percent of the Eugene race’s proceeds will stay in the Oregon/Southwest Washington area to fund breast health education as well as breast cancer screening and support for those battling the disease.
“Really, this is a local Eugene Race for the Cure so we hope the flavor of Eugene shows right through,” Gorham says.
Injecting some of that local flavor is twenty-year-old University of Oregon student Kenzie Ryan. As team leader of UO Rack Pack, she organized a group of sixteen students to race in support of her best friend’s mother, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
“She’s like a second mom,” Ryan says. “You don’t think things like this are going to happen to people you care about, but in reality one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer so the odds are, you’ll know someone affected by it.”
One woman personally affected by it is 59-year-old Charlotte Corliss, who survived her struggle with the disease and has attended five Race for the Cure events in Tennessee and one in Portland.
“There’s just an overwhelming feeling of support at these races,” Corliss says. “You know that everyone is there, just working to get this cured. It’s a very good feeling.”
After the race events on Sunday there will be an exclusive, specially catered VIP area called ‘Survivor City,’ where survivors are honored, as well as a general festival area.
“Expect live music, free food, samples, give-aways, and a lot of fun and entertainment. Expect a lot of great, upbeat energy,” Gorham says.
Interested in registering?
Although online registration is closed you can still register in person at the Pink-Up Event at the Eugene Hilton Hotel on Friday, October 8th 11am-6pm and Saturday, October 9th 11am-3pm. Cost to register is $35.00 but students with a valid University ID can register at anytime for the discounted rate of $30. Registration at $40 will also be available starting 7:30am the morning of the event.
