Susan G. Komen - Race For The Cure

"WASHINGTON, D.C.---They came to honor a loved one, to celebrate survival and to make an impact in the fight against breast cancer, both here in the Washington, D.C. metro area and across the globe. In the end, more than 40,000 people participated in the 21st running of the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure® in Washington, D.C. Today's event raised more than $4.5 million to fund breast cancer programs for women in need throughout the National Capital Area and abroad. Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, Susan G. Komen for the Cure's founder and CEO charged up the crowd and a called for each participant to find a way to make an impact on this deadly disease. "Without a cure, in the next 25 years, an estimated 11 million will die from the disease worldwide. 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," Brinker said. Honorary Chair, Dr. Jill Biden, a long-time advocate for breast health education and wife of Vice President Joe Biden, addressed the day's participants during the opening ceremonies, encouraging them and thanking them for showing up to make an impact on an issue close to her heart. Dr. Biden was joined at the Race by several members of the Obama Administration, including Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. In addition to the tens of thousands of area residents who turned out for this morning's festivities, the Komen Global Race inspired 44 congressional offices to form teams for this year's Race. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Virginia), who helped spearhead this year's congressional "State of Pink" challenge sponsored by Politico, and Rep. Jim Moran (D-Virginia) were among the Members of Congress who joined their office teams in person for the event. The morning's festivities, emceed by W*USA's Andrea Roane and WASH-FM's Maureen McLain, opened with the Parade of Pink, as nearly 3,500 breast cancer survivors and international representatives marched into the mall to a live performance of "Pink Warrior," an inspiring song by singer/songwriter Candy Coburn. Coburn also fired up the participants with the debut of her soon-to-be released single "Ain't No Rodeo." Celebrity fitness trainer Holly Perkins helped warm up the crowd as they prepared for the morning's 5k walk." Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure® For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877-GO KOMEN (465-6636)