Hooray! The Race is Tomorrow!

It’s a day like today that makes me realize I absolutely did the right thing by volunteering to chair the 2010 Race for the Cure. It’s the Friday before the Race and there is so much excitement, enthusiasm and emotion. It’s all come down to this – and it’s incredible.

• As I hugged my kids this morning I was reminded of a funny story of my daughter. I took Bailey to one of the executive committee meetings this year and when I introduced her I said I was involved with Race for the Cure so that “when Bailey gets boobies we’ll have a cure for breast cancer.” She was terribly embarrassed – and mortified because I said she was going to have boobies. It just made me smile.
• Then, I walked into the warehouse and packet pick-up to hear that our numbers are at 40,041 – and registration is still open (actually open Race Day through Apr. 24), so that number will continue to rise. Thanks to everyone who is taking time out of their Saturday morning to walk, run or sleep-in for the Cure.
• I passed by the fundraising table to hear that fundraising is up 36% from last year, which is incredible – that’s more mammograms and breast cancer educational programs and services Komen Indianapolis can fund in Central Indiana. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to such an incredible cause.
• I stopped by the merchandise corner only to see that MainGate brought out even more cool stuff. Thanks to them for their partnership. Up to 25% from sales comes back to Komen.
• I was interviewed by Fox 59 and learned that they want to come down to the Race and cover the event. We have a great media partner with WTHR, but it’s great to know that both WISH TV and FOX 59 have contacted us and are interested in promoting the Race. Thanks to our friends in the media for raising awareness of the event and the cause.
  

And here’s where it all comes full circle … I opened my e-mail to find a message from a college friend who just discovered that his wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer. He was asking if I could call him after the Race to talk about available resources for his wife and family -- and ways he could get involved.

I can’t wait to see what the rest of the day – and tomorrow will bring.

(by the way, I'm so excited that my talented friend, Tana Lopez Younger, flew in from DC to document the Race. Stop by next week to see her pictures and hear about the Race.)

Komen Indy Counts on Kroger!

(blog entry submitted by our friends at Kroger)


Kroger’s commitment to the Komen Indianapolis Race for the Cure is far-reaching. In addition to hundreds of event volunteers and race participants, Kroger makes a significant financial contribution which will build on our nearly $600,000 donated in recent years.


One of our most inspiring initiatives involves students from our partner school, IPS School 46. IPS students and volunteers from UPS will help Kroger prepare tens of thousands of food bags for race participants. The bags include healthy, nutritious food donated by Kroger. This is an important part of Kroger’s efforts to teach important life lessons to our classroom buddies at School 46.

Kroger is also providing Walnut Grove Spring Water to participants at a water station near the finish line and along the course. In addition, the American Dairy Association is joining Kroger to provide chocolate milk to all race participants after they cross the finish line. And our pharmacists will staff an information booth to highlight pro-active wellness efforts.

Kroger associates working during the event have the option of buying a “Race for the Cure” T-shirt and wearing it in their Kroger store on race day as a show of support.


Kroger is proud to be a national sponsor for the Race for the Cure, contributing nearly $4 million nationally to breast cancer research. We look forward to supporting our Kroger associates who are survivors as well as our customers participating this year. Kroger’s division president says he is personally very inspired by every single survivor who will walk in the event.

Turning the Town Pink

As the chairperson for the 2010 Komen Indy Race for the Cure, I get to do some pretty cool things, work with incredible volunteers and I get to see first-hand all of the support that comes from corporations, organizations and individuals. The latest support comes in the form of businesses participating in Paint the Town Pink.

In 2005, Komen incorporated Paint the Town Pink into its annual Race. It was designed to help businesses raise awareness of the Race and breast cancer to their employees and patrons. It also was a unique way for businesses to support Komen. This year, more than 20 Paint the Town Pink entries have been submitted - all of which will be judged over the next few days (winners to be announced Apr. 14).

One of the great things about the program is its educational component. Participating businesses had to incorporate one very important message: “In the United States, a woman has about a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime” into their décor. So now, not only are they raising awareness about the Race for the Cure, but they’re helping to educate the public.

All entries have been collected (deadline was last Friday) and a panel of volunteer judges will review and select winners from various categories. As Race chair – and as one of the volunteer judges, I got a sneak peak at some of the entries:

• Inspired by the fact that one person can make an impact, one individual decided to decorate his cubicle. His employer wasn’t participating, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t.
• One business owner, who is very quiet about being a breast cancer survivor, became a loud and proud supporter of Paint the Town Pink. Her employees helped decorate their entire storefront.
• Paint the Town Pink has reached several surrounding county businesses and for the first time we’ve had more entries from businesses in Carmel, Columbus, Elwood, Greenwood, Plainfield, and Rushville.

Some of the entries are very visible – like the bras hanging from Little Red Door Cancer Agency, along Meridian St. and pink ribbons that can be seen as you pass several Starbucks locations throughout town (104 locations). Some, however, are seen only by employees and patrons – like the decorated treadmill at Anytime Fitness at 86th and Ditch and the strip of cars by Regenstrief Institute with the clever race theme and message “dangerous curves ahead”.

This will be a fun week as I get the privilege of reviewing the applicants. And while the judges will select just one winner in each category, I truly believe everyone is a winner! Thanks to everyone who participated. Not only are you helping us raise awareness about the Race for the Cure (Apr. 17), but you’re helping us educate the public about a very important organization and cause.

Stop by these participating Paint the Town Pink participants: Borders Bookstore, Columbus Regional Hospital - Breast Health Center, Columbus Regional Hospital - Emergency Department, Conseco Insurance Co. (Jeremiah Shelton’s cubical), Creation Café, Curves Eagle Creek, Cummins Fuel Systems, CVS Pharmacy (Elwood), Dream Dinners, Little Red Door Cancer Agency, Minton-Capehart Federal Building, Regenstrief Institute, Rush Memorial Hospital, Starbucks (104 Indiana Locations), The AVON Store, Underwater Unlimited, Inc., Walker & Associates Insurance (won its category last year and has participated since 2006), Wellspring Pharmacy – North, West 86th Hair Designs (won its category last year) and West 86th Street Anytime Fitness.