On the Road to Our Own Final Four (four weeks)

With March Madness upon us, I thought it would be fun to incorporate some basketball terms into this week’s blog. Although all eyes may be on the brackets, at Komen Indy, we’re focused on the Race. So for us, the “Final Four” actually means the final four weeks before thousands of runners and walkers take to the streets of downtown to help us raise money for breast cancer research and programs (technically, we’re five weeks from Race day, but that didn’t play into my theme).

This week we are focusing our game plan on registration. On a serious note … Race registrations are down 20 % from last year. That’s nearly 8,400 fewer participants. What does this mean for Komen – and for the community? It means $235,200 less to fund mammograms, clinical breast exams, education and screening services for those in our community. Imagine if your mom, sister, daughter, best friend, neighbor or co-worker needed these services. Please sign-up today.

This could mean 8,400 fewer participants and $235,200 less to fund education, screening and early detection services for those in our community.

So, we’re trying hard this week to increase the number of registrations. We’re letting people know our numbers are down. And we’re asking for our friends and family to join our team – the “Dream Team” that will help us find a cure to end breast cancer before the final buzzer.

It’s been fun to see some of the support we’ve received:

• Our friends at Entercom – one of our media sponsors, have invited us to join them at Smiley’s Prom and at their Easter Egg Hunt to hand out information. They also are offering you the opportunity to share who you are walking in memory or celebration of through their Memory Wall. You may even get a phone call to share your story...on the radio!


• The Indianapolis Indians have invited us to be a part of their opening weekend, which is the same weekend as the Race. We will be at Victory Field on Opening Night to sign-up last minute participants and raise awareness of Komen Indy among Indians’ fans. Visit this blog before the Race for a blog from Rowdie.


• Our partners at WTHR have created fantastic PSAs, featuring Jeff and Karen Saturday, and Andrea Morehead and John Stehr, which will begin running on their station. They also have featured Komen Indy on Focus and featuring survivor stories on their program.


• The Indianapolis Star special insert will help raise awareness – and has some great stories highlighting the Race, survivors and breast cancer. Look for that issue to hit newsstands on March 31.

We also have 11 national sponsors and 65 local sponsors who are Komen Indy’s MVPs. Without the generosity and support of our sponsors the Indianapolis Race for the Cure would not be possible. While all of our sponsors are doing amazing things to support the Race, these are a few plays that I think score big points:

• Hoosier Lottery will be handing out free lottery tickets at the Race. One per person.


• McAlister’s Deli is sponsoring the Race with an in-kind donation of food and beverages for all of the Komen Indianapolis meetings.


• Omni Severin Indianapolis has donated several weekend stays at their hotel, as well as 5 night/6 day stay at the Omni Cancun, as prizes for fundraising incentives. They also are offering a special room rate of $109 per night to Race participants the weekend of the Race and donating $10 of that back to Komen Indy. Click here for reservations.

There’s a lot happening – and we want you to be a part of the fun; to be a part of the Race for the Cure. It’s a slam dunk, really. Just sign up today and be a part of the Cure!