The Race

The first Race for the Cure was held in Dallas, Texas back in October 1983. 800 runners and walkers took part.

The Race for the Cure soon grew into a mass event. By 1999 the Race was attracting 500,000 participants in 99 US cities. In 2003 some 1.3 million people took part in the 5 kilometer Race. The event went global in 2000 with Races held in Rome, Italy and Frankfurt, Germany. Susan G Komen for the Cure® and Think-Pink entered into a partnership and Antwerp was chosen as te Race venue in Belgium.

The aim is to raise funds for and awareness about breast cancer prevention.

The message of Think-Pink is that plenty of exercise and healthy living may reduce the risk of breast cancer. Scientific studies show that the risk of developing breast cancer is significantly lower among women that exercise regularly. In addition exercise is recommended for women with breast cancer during or after their therapy. Physical exercise and sports have positive effects on the physical performance, mental state and quality of life of cancer patients.

The Race for the Cure is

• POSITIVE: a celebration of survivorship
• TANGIBLE and LOCAL: proceeds go to a local breast cancer project
• AWARENESS RAISING: it targets the widest possible group of women

International

The Race for the Cure is now held in 121 US cities (including one Global Race every year in Washington, D.C.), but Susan G. Komen for the Cure® continues its commitment to rolling it out to the rest of the world.

1,6 million people participate in the Race for the Cure® internationally. 

By 2010, the Global Initiative for Breast  Cancer Awareness had an impact in 37 communities  in 10 countries, involving 350 organizations and over 800 individual participants  worldwide.

IIE  launched the Global Initiative in Brazil, Costa Rica, Jordan,  Mexico, Romania, Saudi   Arabia, Ukraine,  and the United Arab Emirates,  expanding to Panama in  autumn 2008 and Egypt  in summer 2009.

You can find all the information here.

What happens with the profits of the Race?

Think-Pink, in association with LOGO Antwerp, donated the proceeds of the first Belgium Race for the Cure, € 7.106, to two local projects for women that are hard to reach. 

Awareness campaign for "hard to reach" women (ethnic minorities and the underprivileged)

• Publication of a leaflet in eight languages for women with reading difficulties
• Development of a network of volunteers to reach women in their homes
• ‘Get your breasts screened’ exhibition – special activities to get women that are hard to reach to come to the exhibition

Mamma’Care project in Stuyvenbergh and Seefhoek (2060) in the centre of Antwerp

• Development of prevention and aftercare for women that are hard to reach
• Campaign in the "2060 neighbourhood" in 2009-2012 to increase the breast cancer screening percentage from 31% to 45%

Project partners: City of Antwerp, OCMW, LOGO Antwerp, OCA, Open Huis, Wijkgezondheidscentrum De Regent, Antwerp Breast Clinics (ZNA, UZA, St.-Augustinus).

 Naboram

The volunteers of Naboram visit patients in 14 hospitals in the area of Greater Anwerp, as far as in Reet, Merksem, Malle, Mortsel, Brasschaat and Lier. When a patient has undergone a mastectomy or a double mastectomy, she receives from Naboram a free temporary prosthesis during their visit to the hospital. The patient wears this prosthesis during the first weeks following the surgery. In 9 of the 14 hospitals, the volunteers of Naboram hand over this prothesis themselves; in the 5 other hospitals the prosthesis is given by the hospital.