SUMMER RUNNING: The Race To Cure Breast Cancer is a highly acclaimed and uplifting documentary about courageous women who wage very different fights against breast cancer.

The film includes an introduction by Oscar-winning actress Sissy Spacek and profiles the astonishing work done by researchers and doctors from The University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins University and the nation's leading private research facilities.

Produced and directed by filmmaker Scott Mactavish , Summer Running traces the parallel stories of two women and their triumphs over adversity, starting with Summer Kasgnoc Shin, a 26-year old mother of two who struggles daily with juvenile arthritis, but still manages to run fundraising races for breast cancer research.

Summer's story is juxtaposed with that of breast cancer survivor Christa Slotboom, a 34 year-old mother of three with Stage 4 breast cancer, who is receiving her final radiation treatments. The two stories weave together to create a remarkable dramatic tension that strikes an emotional chord in both those who have little experience with breast cancer and those whose lives breast cancer has irrevocably touched. The film sheds light on this common disease and those dedicated to finding a cure.

The story picks up a month before the Women's Four Miler, an annual event held in September as a fundraiser for breast cancer research. Summer has begun training and struggles each step due to the disabling pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis, a malady from which she has suffered since her teens. She works hard at her training and still manages to juggle her roles as mother, wife and community volunteer.

Simultaneously, the story of Christa's battle against the breast cancer is chronicled from diagnosis through chemo, double mastectomy, and radiation treatment. We witness her treatment firsthand and follow her through her daily struggles with her family and health.

The stories are threaded together metaphorically and through them we learn of the importance of breast cancer research and the ongoing quest for a cure. In addition to their profound narratives, we learn the fascinating history of cancer and its treatment through stock footage, interviews and testimonials from doctors, researchers, patients and survivors.

The film is also a testament to the power, courage and dedication of women runners who lace up their shoes and hit the roads to save their mothers, sisters, daughters and friends.

I probably speak for everyone when I say I was touched, moved and inspired by your film "Summer Running".
Summer Running is moving without being sentimental. It balances the grim impact of breast cancer with the dedication of researchers, runners and others, inspiring viewers to join the cause.

Richard Leahy
Richmond, VA

Through the portrayal of one woman's courageous fight against advanced breast cancer, Scott Mactavish and his crew reveals the critical need for research and funding to find a cure for breast cancer.

In Summer Running, he uses real women with real health concerns to capture the spirit of hope and encouragement that exemplifies breast cancer races.

JoAnn V. Pinkerton, MD
Director, Midlife Health
University of Virginia Health System

Support Breast Cancer: Mactavish's film SUMMER RUNNING: The Race to Cure Breast Cancer is now available on DVD exclusively at the Stomp Cancer website, with net proceeds going directly to cancer research.

Featuring Sissy Spacek, Summer Shin and Christa Slotboom
Executive Producer: Ricardo Preve
Co-Producer: David Hersman
Associate Producer: Rob McMurray
Directors of Photograph: David Hersman, Todd Free
Music: James Gammon, Scott Taylor
Written, Produced and Directed by Scott Mactavish

Copyright 2007 

Breast cancer has become a major health problem over the last 50 years. It is a very common type of cancer, which occurs in about one in twelve women in the course of their lifetime. Breast cancer is rarely found in very young women. It occurs more frequently with increasing age, with the majority of new cases being seen in women aged 50 years or older.

Whilst the causes of breast cancer are not completely understood, modern research is making rapid progress in controlling the disease, through earlier and more accurate diagnoses and improved methods of treatment.

About the breast

A breast is made of lobules, ducts, fatty tissues, blood vessels and lymph vessels. The lobules are glands that make milk; the ducts are tubes that link the lobules to the nipples. The fatty tissue surrounds the lobules and ducts. Lymph vessels carry lymph to the lymph nodes in the underarm, above the collarbone and in the chest. There are also lymph nodes throughout the body.

Support Breast Cancer: Mactavish's film SUMMER RUNNING: The Race to Cure Breast Cancer is now available on DVD exclusively at the Stomp Cancer website, with net proceeds going directly to cancer research.

Breasts contain many glands that are made up of small building blocks known as cells, which produce breast milk after pregnancy. These cells normally divide and grow in an orderly manner. However, sometimes, for reasons still not known, a few of these cells become uncontrolled and continue to divide and grow causing a lump or tumour to be produced.



In some women, this process can take 3 or 4 years or even longer before the lump can be detected.

Breast lumps can be either benign (innocent), which are contained in one area of the breast, or malignant, which means that they consist of cancer cells that can spread to other parts of the body, through either the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a network of tiny glands that helps the body produce cells to fight infection. When the cancer cells spread beyond the breast, these are often referred to as recurrences, secondaries or metastases. Doctors can tell whether or not a breast lump is benign or malignant by taking a small sample from the tumour (called a 'biopsy') and looking at the cells under a microscope.

Support Breast Cancer: Mactavish's film SUMMER RUNNING: The Race to Cure Breast Cancer is now available on DVD exclusively at the Stomp Cancer website, with net proceeds going directly to cancer research.

There is not just a single cause of breast cancer and it is possible that a number of factors are responsible. Whilst a family history of breast cancer does increase risk, it is far from certain that this factor alone will lead to any woman getting the disease. There are special clinics for women who are worried that they may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer, and helplines are available in most countries around the world.

Support Breast Cancer: Mactavish's film SUMMER RUNNING: The Race to Cure Breast Cancer is now available on DVD exclusively at the Stomp Cancer website, with net proceeds going directly to cancer research.

Many risk factors have been identified in the search to understand how breast cancer occurs. None of them on its own is considered to be a single risk factor, but taken together they can indicate an increased risk of developing the disease. For example, women who have not had children or had them late in life seem to have an increased risk, as do women whose periods started when they were very young or who had a late menopause. There is some evidence that women who take the contraceptive pill or receive hormone replacement therapy are at slightly greater risk, but the importance of this is still being evaluated around the world.
Diet appears to play a role, in that those who have a very fatty diet have a slightly increased chance of getting breast cancer compared with those who eat more healthily. Obesity and a high intake of alcohol on a regular basis have also been noted as risk factors but there is no evidence that increased stress has any effect upon increased risk of breast cancer.

However, despite an increased knowledge of the variety of risk factors for breast cancer, approximately half of the women who develop the disease have no known risk factors at the time of diagnosis.

Support Breast Cancer: Mactavish's film SUMMER RUNNING: The Race to Cure Breast Cancer is now available on DVD exclusively at the Stomp Cancer website, with net proceeds going directly to cancer research.