By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
Though the weather was a bit “cold and misty,” the mood of more than 600 participants remained bright at Saturday’s third annual Susan G. Komen Kansas Race for the Cure-Hays at Hays Municipal Park.
“Joy … a lot of joy. Runners were excited to be running again, and there was just lot of excitement,” Komen Team Coordinator Mary Juenemann Braden said. “And of course we survivors are always happy to be there. … We are treated special … because we are special.”
Juenemann Braden, a breast cancer survivor, added the Susan G. Komen event is rare to have in smaller cities such as Hays, and she is thankful organizers continue to bring the event to Hays.
“It is in events like this you realize what you been through, and it’s a chance to see other survivors and celebrate life together,” she said, “and you know you can help others too.”
Juenemann Braden said total funds raised are still being counted, but she does know nearly $49,000 was raised to go directly toward Hays Medical Center’s Breast Care Center.
HMC’s Breast Care Center provides breast cancer patients a personal nurse navigator who guides them from diagnosis to treatment to survivorship.
“A nurse navigator is godsend,” Juenemann Braden said.
The Susan G. Komen Kansas Race for the Cure-Hays is locally presented by Eagle Communications and Hays Medical Center.
Local sponsors include Brungardt Hower Ward Elliott & Pfeifer L.C., McGrath Publishing-Plains/Waconda Trader, Hays Ashley Furniture HomeStore/Miller’s of Claflin, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, Commerce Bank, Golden Belt Bank FSA, Nex-Tech Wireless and Trober Sound.
The National Presenting Sponsor is Bank of America. The National Series Sponsors include American Airlines, Ford Motor Co., New Balance, SELF Magazine and Walgreens.
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About Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Komen Kansas Affiliate
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever, and in 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The Kansas Affiliate is part of the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer.
Through events like the Komen Wichita Race for the Cure and the Komen Hays Race for the Cure, the Kansas Affiliate has invested $4 million in community breast cancer programs in 95 counties in Kansas. Up to 75 percent of all funds generated by the Affiliate stay in the 95 counties we serve in Kansas. The remaining 25 percent of funds raised go to national breast cancer research programs. For more information, call (316) 683-8510 or visit www.komenkansas.org.