By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
The annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure returns to Hays this weekend to celebrate and honor breast cancer survivors.
This Saturday’s fundraiser marks the sixth year for the event, and it will once again include a number of opportunities for people to participate. This year’s activities at Municipal Park include a 5k run, 1-mile Family Fun Walk, and a 50-yard Dash for Kids.
Stephanie Howie, member of the Hays race committee said breast cancer affects a lot of people in a lot of different ways.
“There are people next door that may be battling breast cancer and we don’t even know,” Howie said. “But I think every single one of us is affected by it somehow.”
Registration is open ahead of Saturday’s event online at komenkansas.org. There will also be a packet pickup in front of the Hays Aquatic Park from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 4. Registration on the day of the race opens at 7 a.m. The Hays Med 5K race starts at 8 a.m.
People can register as an individual or sign up as a team.
Breast Cancer Survivors can register as a survivor and take part in a continental breakfast at Municipal Park starting at 7 a.m. There will be a number of opportunities to honor survivors throughout the day.
At 9:15 a.m. there will be a survivor photo and that will be followed by the survivor parade and celebration.
Howie said, “The day is for them.”
“Those people have gone through a lot in their life — a lot of treatment and a lot of ups and downs — and it’s just a great way to put some smiles on some people’s faces and you know, probably some tears in their eyes.”
Survivors are invited to join in on the Midwest Energy Mile Family Fun Walk at 9:50 a.m. behind Larks Park.
Jeremy Mock, Susan G. Komen Kansas executive director, said up to 75 percent of the fundraising dollars stay in their 95-county service area. The other 25 percent goes to the Komen Research grants.
“We are almost too funding $1 billion of breast cancer research and no other organization can say they’ve done that, expect for the federal government,” Mack said.
Susan G. Komen’s largest grant program in Kansas is called the Early Detection Works Program. Mock said the federal program that provides screening for breast cancer, for women and men and cervical cancer for women who are underinsured or uninsured. If a tumor is found the program will also cover treatment.
Fundraising efforts extend 30 days past the race and new this year when people sign up for the event they can share their registration and create a fundraiser through Facebook.
“You don’t necessarily have to go door-to-door, make phone calls, send emails,” said Mock. “You can link it straight to your Facebook login information and your Facebook profile and it creates your fundraiser on Facebook.”
If you are unable to attend this year’s event, you can still donate online or you can register as a virtual race. Mock said this allows people to take part in the event on a different day.
“The real important part to us is that we find an end to breast cancer and the only way we can do that is by raising more money and being able to invest more in research and helping men and women that are battling it here in Kansas as well,” said Mock.