Over 25 years ago, Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded by a woman who lost her sister to breast cancer, and promised that she wouldn't stop until she found a cure.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® was founded by Nancy Brinker, launching a global breast cancer movement. According to their website, "Komen for the Cure is 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." Komen Race for the Cure®, run in many locations around the world, has allowed the organization to raise $1 billion and become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to eradicating breast cancer. Komen is planning to invest $100 million in research grants this year.

Many women in the 85 Broads network are breast cancer survivors, several of whom have documented their struggle with the disease in Janet Hanson's book, "More than 85 Broads." For most of the women in the book, their cancer has gone into remission, but Lisa Bissett, Wharton GSB grad and McKinsey consultant, succombed to the disease at age 37 after a 5-year battle. Read her story here: http://classic.85broads.com/pages/broadcasts/Feb2007graphics/lisa_bissett.html

I joined the 30 women on the 85 Broads team in NYC out of a desire to give back to the community, partly for the novelty factor (I had never run a charity race before), partly to hang out with more great women from our network, and lastly, to honor my great-aunt Edna, who succombed to the disease many years ago in her 40s. Although the disease might have taken her anyway, my mother asserted that she "died out of embarrassment" - she knew that she had a lump in her breast, but didn't want to go to the doctor. She finally went to get it examined months later, but by that point, she had stage IV cancer. She left two children and a number of siblings behind.

The day couldn't have been better for a race - 78 degrees and sunny. Three of the NYC Chapter Leaders, Cheryl Katz and Allyson DeMatteo of the Philanthropic Works Committee and Colette Ellis of the Health and Wellness Committee, did a great job organizing the team, and most of the 30 of us participating met up for breakfast at Ducale's and then walked together in smaller groups during the 5K. Thousands of people participated, many of whom wore tags in memory of a family member or friend who had died of breast cancer or in celebration of someone who had survived it. It was fun from a "people-watching" perspective and very meaningful.

85 Broads has participated in Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in the past, but today was the start of an annual tradition for the NYC Tri-State Chapter. Perhaps we'll create an 85 Broads hat or scarf for race participants and supporters! We are also pleased to see that the Boston Chapter is going to participate in the race on September 26th, and in October, 85 Broads has been invited to participate in a special delegation to Egypt for a Race for the Cure around the Pyramids (which will be lit pink for the occasion). Washington D.C. Chapter Leader Darlene Taylor will be representing our organization and have the opportunity to meet with Nancy Brinker!

Thanks for everyone who supports this great organization.