The fifth annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation “Race for the Cure” will start the first race at 8 a.m., Saturday, May 12 at the California Exposition in Sacramento. It was in 1997 when Sacramento first held its Race for the Cure, attracting more than 2,000 participants. Five years later the number of participants is expected to increase dramatically to almost 10,000 local residents, making this year the biggest run/walk in Sacramento history.

Several Sacramento State students have donated some of their time this year in helping the Sacramento Valley affiliate. Students are encouraged to sign up and participate in Race for the Cure.

Donna Sanderson, executive director of the Sacramento Valley affiliate, says that it would be great to get more students involved this year to run.

“There are a lot of college students out there where breast cancer has touched their lives in some way,” Sanderson said. “Finding the right students who would be willing to head up something like the Race for the Cure would be great.”

Approximately 183,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and more than 40,000 of these women will die, one in a 12-minute duration. Breast cancer does not only target women but men, as well. About 1,300 men will also be diagnosed and 400 will die. Komen states that 95 percent of breast cancer is survivable only if early detection is sought.

“The Komen Foundation is a good thing,” said Amy Keelan, a Sacramento resident who will be participating in this year?s 5K run/walk. Keelan is very familiar with the pain of a loved one who had breast cancer. It was in the ?60s when one of her grandmothers lost her life to breast cancer. Twenty years later, Keelan?s family was faced with the same pain. Her other grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer and soon after lost her life due to complications of both breast cancer and bone cancer.

“It hits close to home,”said Keelan, who has also partaken in other community events such as the Juvenile Diabetes Walk, which took place earlier this fall.

“This race is another way of informing younger people that breast cancer exists, and that we too can detect it early on,” Keelan said.

It was in 1982 when Nancy Brinker founded the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, honoring the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who at the age of 36 died of breast cancer. Today the Foundation is known as being the nation?s largest group in recognizing the fight against breast cancer.

Komen Foundation has more than 40,000 volunteers throughout the country helping out with 113 Komen Affiliates. Race for the Cure is the world?s largest 5k run/fitness walks and has grown from one single race to a series of 109 races. Since its founding, the Foundation and its 113 affiliates have raised a total of $214 million. The majority of this money was spent on breast cancer research.

Last year alone the Sacramento Valley affiliate raised more than $150,000 in pledges. Twenty-five percent of the funds raised are given to the Komen Foundation?s National Grant Program, however, the remainder is distributed to local community organizations. “Seventeen programs were funded in the greater Sacramento area from last year?s proceeds,” Sanderson said.

Educating as many people as possible on breast cancer is the primary key of the Komen Foundation, whether it is ranging from high school students to MediCal patients. The Foundation?s reasoning is to fight breast cancer and advance research, education, screening and treatment for patients. Not only does the Race for the Cure raise awareness it also provided funds for the fight against breast cancer.

Later in the day, a special ceremony is held for breast cancer survivors. Sanderson mentions that the one thing that makes the Race for the Cure different than all the other races out there is the survivor celebration.

“It gives families and friends an affirmation that you can really survive this disease,” Sanderson said.

Applications to participate are still being accepted up until the day of the race at the main gate of Cal Expo. Come rain or shine this May 12, thousands of Sacramento residents will gather together for a wonderful cause.

For more information regarding the event, visit www.sackomen.org or call (916) 941-7981.