More than 170,000 ran, walked or volunteered for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure Sunday, September 30th throughout Canada. The run/walk raised $23.4 million for breast cancer research, education and awareness programs. Runs took place in 53 locations across the country. Participants had the choice of running or walking a 1K or a 5K.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for Candian women. One woman in nine is anticipated to be diagnosed with breast cancer in Canada. However, mortality rates are the lowest they have ever been since the 1950’s. With early detection and treatment, 5,300 women of 22,300 diagnosed with breast cancer will die.

The Run for the Cure is Canada’s largest volunteer-based, single-day fundraiser for breast cancer.

Source: Edmonton Journal, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Run for the Cure

Maren Coffman is participating in the 39-mile, two-day Avon Walk held on Charlotte, NC on October 20th - 21st. The Fort Hill, SC resident must raise a minimum of $1,800 to be a walker in the event. Like many fundraisers for walk-a-thons or other events, Coffman is putting her own special personal touch on her fundraising. She has created several creative fundraising strategies to support her efforts. Her fundraising is also helping to raise more awarness for breast cancer.

Coffman has created a mini-walk to benefit the Avon Foundation on Saturday, October 6th. The walk is 4 miles and begins at the Baxter Village Starbucks. The registration fee of $20 will benefit the Avon Foundation. By holding a walk, she is helping to raise more awareness for breast cancer, especially for walkers who might not be able to complete the 39-mile walk held by Avon in late October.

She is also selling raffle tickets for prizes that will be given right after the mini-walk on October 6th. Raffle tickets are being sold for $5 each. Local businesses have donated a number of prizes which include four cakes donated by The Perfect Pastry, handmade chocolates from Epiphany Chocolatiers, a $150 gift certificate from P.Elite Catering and a two-night stay at Holiday Inn Charlotte City Center.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many women are wearing pink ribbons in support of this very important month.

Source:  Charlotte.com

The fifth annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Los Angeles, CA, held September 15th through September 16th, raised $4.3 million. Funds raised will help to find a cure for breast cancer. There were more than 1,900 participants in this year’s event.

Participants had the option of walking a marathon or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over the weekend event. The event began Saturday, September 15th in the morning at Queen Mary Events Park in Long Beach, CA with an opening ceremony.

After the first day of walking, participants spent the night in two-person tents in the “Wellness Village” created by the Avon Walk at El Dorado East Regional Park in Long Beach, CA. They enjoyed live entertainment and dinner. On Sunday the participants completed  a half marathon’s journey and ended the day at the Queen Mary Events Park. Thousands of cheering family and friends greeted them for a inspiring closing ceremony.

At the closing ceremony, Avon Foundation Executive Director Ms. Carol Kurzig stated that five initial grants will be awarded. These grants will advance access to care and also help to find a cure for breast cancer. The initial grants were awarded to: UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation (Los Angeles, CA) for $1,168,137; John Wayne Cancer Institute and the Center for Healthy Aging (Santa Monica, CA) for $275,00; Council of Community Clinics (San Diego, CA) for $250,000; Clinica Msr. Oscar A. Romero (Los Angeles, CA) for $180,000; and Project Angel Food (Los Angeles, CA) for $100,000.

Source: PRNewswire

More than sixty cyclists joined the first “Pan Ohio Hope Ride” for a four day, 300 mile ride to benefit the American Cancer Society. Funds raised benefited Hope Lodges in both Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio. The cyclists raised more than 100,000. The Hope Lodges, run by the American Cancer Society provide a “home away from home” no-cost housing for cancer patients during treatment. The lodges have served more than 3,000 cancer patients to date. The American Cancer Society has 22 Hope Lodges around the country.

The ride began on Thursday, August 9th in Cleveland. Cyclists averaged seventy miles each day on the 300 mile route. Riders stopped and spent the night at Wooster College in Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware (OH) and Antioch College in Yellow Springs. The cyclists completed their ride on Sunday, August 12th at the Cincinnati Hope Lodge.

Sources: Community Press, American Cancer Society: Pan Ohio

Create A Well-Known Event By Keeping The Same Date

Everyone in Elmira Heights, NY knows what the first weekend in January means: the Bowl for the Cure weekend.

The Bowl for the Cure  event last year was held on January 6th and 7th. The event is always held at Paramount Bowling Lanes in Elmira Heights. Last year 120 bowlers came out to participate in the event and help to raise money. “It’s just a day to come out and have fun, no competitive bowling,” says Linda Morrell. Morrell is a dedicated volunteer who attended the United States Bowling Congress convention in 2002 in Reno, NV. “I heard about Bowl for the Cure  and brought this back to our local womens association, and I presented it to the Board of Directors” said Morrell. The Board agreed it would be a good idea and they selected Morrell to chair the event. Read more… »

The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge was held on August 4th and 5th. Approximately 4,800 cyclists participated in the event. They traveled nine routes. The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge is the country’s first fundraising bike-a-thon. It raises more money than any other athletic fundraising event in the U.S.A.. The event is anticipated to raise $27 million this year and a check will be presented in November. Funds raised benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Insitute through The Jimmy Fund in Boston, MA.

Cyclists ride through 46 Massachusetts towns along the ride. They rode 50 to 192 miles over the one or two days.

Billy Starr founded the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge more than twenty years ago. When Starr was 25, his mother died from melanoma. Starr planned a hiking trip through the Appalachian Trial (city, state) with several friends. The eight day adventure was challenging. From this Starr understood that ‘those who put in the mental energy, not just the physical energy, follow their goals from theory to mission accomplished.’ (Source: from PMC.org website). In 1977 Starr began making long cycle rides from Boston to Provincetown, RI. In 1980 Starr began the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge.

Source: PMC.org

Zain Rahman of Mississauga, (Ontario)Canada has begun a month-long, 3,100 kilometre cycle ride to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart & Stroke Foundation and the President’s Choice Children’s Charity. He began his ride on Wednesday, August 1st.

Rahman’s goal is to ride 150 kilometres every day. His original goal was to ride coast-to-coast but he did not have enough vacation time. He has created a route that he can complete in a month. He plans to stay at campgrounds, hotels or with old friends along the route. He has a GPS system and also a cell phone. People can track his journey at his website through his GPS.

Source: Mississauga.com