2008 Race for the Cure Recap
15th Annual Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure Raises Record $2 Million

More than nine months of planning by a very dedicated volunteer Race Committee resulted in recruiting over 14,400 participants to the most successful race event to date.  The Puget Sound Affiliate’s 2008 Race for the Cure® brought in approximately $2 million* in donations, the greatest ever for this 15th annual event.  Close to 500 volunteers greeted the participants on June 21st  with many others working before the race even began!

Many thanks to the Race Committee Chairs Susan Onstad and Andrea Anderson, who brought their leadership and passion to the team. Komen Puget Sound founding director, CJ Taylor served as the 2008 Race honorary chair and captained a team, Komen Through the Years, comprised of 68 friends and supporters who raised more than $11,000 alone.  Jan Slawson, Komen Puget Sound board member and the first Komen Puget Sound race chair, served as the Race parade grand marshal.

The day’s events began with stretches provided by physical therapists from Therapeutics Associates who helped participants warm up before the Kids’ Race, followed by the One-Mile Walk, the Women’s 5K Race, the Wheelchair 5K Race, the Co-ed 5K Race and finally, the Co-ed Walk. Komen’s own Cureleaders returned to the Race for the Cure to share educational messages about breast cancer, prevention and early detection, and to encourage the walkers and runners along the Race course.

Kicking-off the Races were community leaders Governor Christine Gregoire, a breast cancer Survivor, and Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren and his wife Cathy, also a breast cancer survivor.  KING 5 Television’s Jean Enersen emceed the program on the main stage which included remarks by Komen Puget Sound executive director, Mona Locke and board president, Flip Morse, and performances by several local groups.

Every year we honor those who have survived breast cancer with handmade gifts, a special breakfast, access to the Survivor tent, and the Survivor’s parade. Coach Holmgren presented this year’s Survivor of the Year award to Ann McMurray, a Race Committee volunteer who, year after year, recruits one of the largest teams present at the Race. Holmgren also presented a second 2008 Survivor award to middle-schooler, Aidan Maifeld, an outstanding team captain whose mother, Sharon Maifeld is a breast cancer survivor.

Special entertainment was provided for families with children in the new Kids’ Area with inflatables and games provided by Clowns Unlimited. A host of mascots representing community organizations, local businesses and professional sports franchises added a sense of humor to the day’s festivities.

Amazing Partners in 2008
Our community partners are the backbone for our success. For the second year QFC has served as the Presenting Sponsor of the Race. QFC’s a team of more than 700 individuals could be seen promoting Komen in QFC stores in the weeks leading up to the Race, and their presence was a force on Race day.

The Seattle Seahawks lent their support by hosting the Race on their home turf. In addition, the Seahawks players and Sea Gals cheerleaders signed autographs and cheered for the Race participants.

Movin’ 92.5 FM’s on-air stars Brooke and Monti of the Ladies Room morning show formed a team comprising 105 participants who raised nearly $18,000. This comedy crew reminded their listeners every day that breast cancer is no joke.

Joining Komen in partnership for the first time, The Boeing Company recruited a team of almost 2000 employees, family and friends. In a campaign to promote healthy lifestyle choices and habits, Boeing contributed $100 to Komen for every employee who participated in the Race for the Cure.  Their contribution amounted to more than $130,000.

A special partnership was forged this year with the nonprofit organization Girls on the Run, who selected the Race for the Cure as their training goal. More than 130 youth and their mentors trained for several months leading up to the 5K Race to complete their first run ever.

Now that the Race is over, we are left with the images of thousands of walkers and runners who flowed across the viaduct along the waters of Puget Sound and into downtown Seattle—some wearing signs on their backs celebrating those who have survived breast cancer, and others remembering those who had lost their battle. Their stories are reminders of how far we have come in 15 years, and the lives that have been saved thanks to the research that has brought more advanced tools for early detection and treatment for breast cancer and which is bringing us closer to the cure(s). These are the stories that serve as an inspiration to renew our promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

Plans for next year are underway.  To find out how you can become involved in next year’s Race for the Cure, please contact Nicole Taylor, volunteer coordinator at Nicole@pskomen.org.

*As much as 75% of the net funds raised at the Race for the Cure will be used to save lives everyday by meeting the immediate breast health needs of underserved women in our community. The remaining 25% will go to the Komen national research fund to energize the science to find the cure(s) for breast cancer.


Fundraising Pledge Prizes
We would like to thank our top fundraisers for their patience while we gather and ship out all remaining pledge prizes. Prizes for $2,500 raised and over will be shipped out the second week in October. Thank you again for your patience. Questions can be emailed to race2008@pskomen.org

Cash or check donations can be mailed to:
Puget Sound Race for the Cure
1900 N Northlake Way, Suite 135
Seattle, WA 98103

Prizes will be awarded to all who are individually responsible for raising over $150 this year, unless otherwise noted during registration. Exciting fundraising incentive prizes were donated and made possible by QFC, Seattle Magazine, RoadRunner Sports and the Seattle Seahawks.
Learn More about Pledge Prizes

Thank You to our Volunteers
Thank you to the 500 + volunteers who contributed their time and talents to the 15th Annual Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure.

For 15 years, Komen Puget Sound has been saving lives of women in our community by providing breast health education, mammograms and other breast cancer screening methods, and services to medically underserved women in Western Washington. Without the support of our many volunteers none of this work would be possible. Thank you to each and every volunteer for your generosity and drive to end breast cancer forever. Our hats are off to you!