CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF RACING FOR A CURE

Over 31,000 Participants Expected at 2010 Komen Houston Race for the Cure®

Houston, TX – Thousands of Houstonians are getting ready to celebrate two decades of the Bayou City’s largest footrace, the Komen Houston Race for the Cure® on Saturday, October 2, 2010 in Downtown Houston.

In 1991, 2,400 women took to the streets for the first Komen Houston Race for the Cure®, raising around $70,000 to support their family and friends with breast cancer.  Twenty years later, the event continues to grow with over 32,000 participants expected in 2010, including 1,600 breast cancer survivors projected to raise over $4,000,000 for breast cancer treatment, screening and education in Southeast Texas.  

This year’s Race, which is sponsored locally by Marathon Oil Corporation, will begin and end at the Sam Houston Park downtown.

The Komen Houston Race for the Cure® is a certified USATF 5K course with running and walking events for everyone including a Family Walk / Kids K (approximately 1/2 mile) sponsored by ConocoPhillips, a 5K Timed Competitive Run, a 5K Non-Competitive Run and a 5K Walk.  Participants can also choose to Sleep in for the Cure® sponsored by Teekay Shipping, a popular event that allows those who cannot attend the main race to show their support from the comfort of their own beds.

The Komen Houston Race for the Cure® will kick-off its pre-events with a media kick-off August 19 at 2pm at CorkThis! in Montgomery, TX and Chevron will once again  be generously sponsoring the Pasta Party and Silent Auction for all race goers, Thursday, Sept. 30 at the InterContinental Hotel.

Opening Ceremonies begin on October 2 at 7:45 a.m. with the first race starting at 8:00 a.m. The Runners’ Award Ceremony begins at 9:15 a.m. and will be followed by the Survivor Celebration sponsored by Baker Hughes at 10 a.m. in Sam Houston Park. Participants can enjoy the Sponsor Expo where they will be able to sample products and food from the Race sponsors and enjoy live entertainment. For the Race’s smallest supporters, the Kids for the Cure® Corral, offers face painting and games for children 10 and under.

In the Affiliate’s 20 year history, it has granted $6 million for research nationally and $19 million for community grants in Harris, Fort Bend, Chambers, Montgomery, Brazoria, Liberty, and Galveston counties. The Affiliate’s granting process ensures the impartial allocation of funds to qualified 501c3 organizations helping countless breast cancer

survivors and their families get the treatment and support they need. Because of this strict process, the Komen Houston Affiliate is ranked number one for granting the most funds to its service area, topping 125 affiliate groups worldwide, largely due to its fundraising from events like the Komen Houston Race for the Cure®.

Entry fees are $30 for adults, $15 for children, $25 for survivors and an additional $5 for the competitive run. Participants who register online at www.komen-houston.org by September 26^th will receive their Race packet, including Race t-shirt and bib, by mail.  Registration for Sleep in for the Cure® is $50 and includes a Race T-shirt, snooze bib and Race bib (just in case you change your mind), and a specialty item.

WHAT:  20^th Annual Komen Houston Race for the Cure®

WHEN:  Saturday, October 2, 2010. Opening race ceremonies begin at 7:45 a.m.

WHO: Over 31,000 race participants including 1,600 breast cancer survivors

WHERE:  Sam Houston Park Downtown

More information about the 2010 Komen Houston Race for the Cure®, membership,

volunteering and Komen Houston Affiliate activities is available at www.komen-houston.org, or by calling (713) 783-9188. 

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cure. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 877 GO KOMEN (877.465.6636).