A pink color washed over the National Mall Saturday morning, as nearly 45,000 runners pounded the pavement in the 20th Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to raise money for breast cancer research and prevention programs.
Saturday’s race raised about $4.3 million to fund breast cancer programs in the D.C. metro area and abroad. It was actually re-branded the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure this year in order to shed light on the worldwide breast cancer crisis.
The morning’s festivities opened with a parade of more than 3,600 breast cancer survivors from around the world, who marched into the mall between twin stages to a live performance of “Pink Warrior,” a new song by singer/songwriter Candy Coburn.
Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden and an advocate for breast health education, told participants during the opening ceremonies that they are “paving the way for a breast cancer-free world through their efforts.”
Nancy G. Brinker, who founded Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 1982 as a promise to her sister Susan — who died of breast cancer at age 36 — charged up the crowd with her story and a call for each participant to find a way to help fight this deadly disease.
“Without a cure, in the next 25 years, an estimated 11 million will die from the disease worldwide,” she said. “That’s more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. We can stem the tide of the growing crises; we can share what we have learned; we can end breast cancer forever, all around the world. And with each of us doing our part, we will.”
A seven-foot pink globe — symbolizing the organization’s worldwide commitment to a cure — was also placed on a platform above the starting line prior to the race. Pink is the color associated with the fight against breast cancer.
Up to 75 percent of race revenue will stay in the D.C. area to address breast cancer disparities for the medically underserved. The remaining 25 percent will go to the Komen Global Promise Fund, which addresses breast cancer incidence and mortality outside the United States with education and outreach programs.
