Drive to raise money for breast cancer research begins

The annual effort by thousands of runners and walkers to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight breast cancer is again underway in Northern Nevada.

This year participants are invited to “Rock the Race” as the Northern Nevada Susan G. Komen Affiliate celebrates a significant milestone—15 years of racing for the Cure in Reno.

Online registration for this year’s race, which takes place Oct. 6 at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, is in full swing. Runners and walkers alike can sign up to “Rock the Race” as teams or individuals, and opt to participate in either a 5-K or one mile run/walk. The popular race is the largest annual fundraiser for the Northern Nevada Affiliate of Susan G. Komen.

Susan G. Komen raises significant funds every year that help save women’s lives. This year alone, based on the 2013 grant cycle, the Northern Nevada arm of Susan G. Komen distributed more than $315,000 to the community to fund education, screening and treatment of breast cancer. The majority of that funding was raised at last year’s Race for the Cure.

“Each year, thousands of women’s lives are impacted because of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. This is truly a community event, and has turned into a celebration for so many who look forward to the first Sunday in October as an opportunity to generate critical financial support that creates survivors, not patients,” said Niki Patin, executive director of the Susan G. Komen Northern Nevada Affiliate.

More than 75 percent of the funds raised at the race are reinvested into the local community. The rest goes to fund national research of breast cancer.

But more than a simple fundraiser, the Race for the Cure is a chance for cancer survivors to support each other, family members to remember a loved one, and for the community to rally around those fighting the disease.

Online registration and more information for the 15th Annual Susan G. Komen Northern Nevada Race for the Cure can be found at www.komennorthnv.org. In-person registration and packet pickup for those who want to “Rock the Race” will take place Wednesday, Oct. 2 through Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Legends at Sparks Marina. Beginning Friday, Oct. 4, packet pick-up moves to the race venue at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. Race-day events begin at 8 a.m.on Sunday, Oct. 6 at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino.

About Susan G. Komen: Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Suzy, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer. Today, Susan G. Komen works to end breast cancer in the U.S. and throughout the world by investing more than $750 million in breast cancer research and $1.5 billion in community outreach programs over the past 30 years; providing funding to help low-income and uninsured women get screened and get treatment; advocating for cancer research and outreach programs; and working globally in more than 30 countries. Visit komen.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. Visit the Northern Nevada Affiliate at www.komennorthnv.org or call 775-355-7311.