Oct. 7, 2011
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By Andrea Bejarano
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - It all started with a promise.
Almost 29 years ago, Susan G. Komen lost her life to breast cancer. Her sister, Nancy G. Brinker, made her a promise that she would do everything in her power to end this malignant cancer. As a founder and CEO, Brinker has formed the Susan G. Komen Foundation that has grown into the world's largest grassroots network for breast cancer research.
Back in 2009, the Susan G. Komen Foundation decided to move Orlando's Race for the Cure event to the University of Central Florida. Along with the athletics department, they have created the UKNIGHT in PINK campaign. This campaign is not just around football, it is around every sport at UCF. And during the upcoming game against Marshall (2-3) Saturday at 7 p.m., there will be special activities like the PINK PATCH tailgate party with the athletics department and a halftime tribute show with the Marching Knights honoring cancer survivors and their families.
As the special events coordinator for the Central Florida Affiliate, Natalie J. Phillips describes how significant it is to stay healthy and the importance for UCF students to get involved.
She is too, keeping the promise alive.
"Having such a large campus and being part of the Central Florida community, students need to be aware of breast cancer because they may think that at 18 or 21 years old it's not going to affect them." Phillips said. "We are seeing more and more young people being affected by not only with themselves but as co-survivors; maybe having a parent or a friend who is going through it. It is also important that students make healthy life choices and that they go see a doctor if they are questioning whether something is wrong or not."
Here in Central Florida, 40 percent of women are getting a mammogram--that's too low.
Even though October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, Susan G. Komen's goal here in Central Florida is bring that awareness throughout the whole year. Breast cancer doesn't just happen in the month of October.
"We need to get the awareness out," Phillips said. "We also need to better educate the younger generation to be aware of the fact that it's not just about finding a lump, it's actually the other things that are going on with it like the changes within your breasts, to be aware of those changes and question if something is wrong."
It is not only about the fundraising, but it is also about the education and the awareness.
We are fortunate that the Susan G. Komen Foundation has 13 national grants going on in the state of Florida. Essentially, when people give $1 to Komen, that whole dollar stays within the state of Florida.
"One thing that puts Susan G. Komen aside from all the rest of the pink ribbons and all the other organizations is that all the funds that we raise here within our affiliate, 75 percent of the funds stay right here in Central Florida and the other 25 percent goes to national research," Phillips said. "It does not go to headquarters to pay for salaries--it goes directly to research."
Over 140 affiliates all over the world have joined this promise.
Last year, Egypt decorated some of their pyramids with pink lights and other countries have also added another race per year. Here in Central Florida, Komen covers nine counties, which seems like a lot but there are some affiliates that cover 30 to 40 counties. Right now Komen has the one race here in Central Florida, but maybe in a couple of years they might be expanding to two.
The 15th Annual Komen Central Florida Race will be on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 a.m. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. People may register online for $30 to walk and $37 for runners so they can be timed. If you come on race day, you can only register as a walker and prices will go up to $40.
People are encouraged to visit www.komencentralflorida.org to participate or volunteer at the race.