Thank You Metro Detroit! 30,000 took part in the 22nd Annual Komen Detroit Race for the Cure®, May 18. Fundraising Continues through July 1.

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May 23, 2013, 07:05 ET

DETROIT, May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A crowd of 30,000 participated in this year's 22nd Annual Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure®, held Saturday, May 18, at Comerica Park. The Detroit Race, locally presented by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, has been a tradition since 1992 when it began in metro Detroit. The Komen Detroit Race is one of more than 145 such events celebrated globally each year in the Komen Race for the Cure Series. Fundraising for the 2013 Komen Detroit Race will continue through July 1. Visit http://www.karmanoscancer.org/KomenDetroit/donate.aspx or call 1-800-KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266) to learn how you can help. Final fundraising results will be reported in early fall.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130523/DC19569)

A new feature at this year's Race was a performance by local singer/songwriter Steve Acho who wrote "Heroes for Life" to honor family and friends who battled cancer. Acho is donating 100 percent of the proceeds from song downloads to Komen Detroit to benefit others affected by breast cancer. Search "Heroes for Life" by Steve Acho to download the song from multiple online sources.

"It's wonderful to have sponsors and volunteers, like Steve Acho and countless others, whose support helps make the Komen Detroit Race a success each year," said Maureen Keenan Meldrum, Race chair and 22-year breast cancer survivor. "Now, anyone can have Steve's beautiful song and feel good about helping to end breast cancer, supporting research and local breast programs that benefit those who might not otherwise have access to life-saving services.

"For more than three decades, Susan G. Komen has been seeking cures and helping low-income, uninsured and under-served women and men have access to life-saving breast cancer screenings and treatment services. That mission has never changed. In metro Detroit, since 1992, the Komen Detroit Race has raised and invested more than $23 million to help end breast cancer, not counting this year's results which will be announced in early fall. We're very grateful for the continued support of metro Detroiters as we together work to help end breast cancer forever."

Each year, the Race awards 75 percent of the net proceeds to local breast cancer screening, treatment support and education programs for medically underserved people in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, providing life-saving breast cancer screenings and treatment services to women, as well as men. The remaining 25 percent funds breast cancer research grants awarded to scientists throughout the globe through Susan G. Komen. There are currently 17 active breast cancer research grants funded by Susan G, Komen representing $13,685,565. Komen's research funding to Michigan since 1995 totals more than $26 million.

Known as one of the best days in the city of Detroit, the Race is a tradition for thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds who come together to celebrate and support breast cancer survivors, and honor the memory of those who have died. Opening Ceremony was again hosted by Lila Lazarus; and WDIV Local 4's Ashlee Baracy was back again for Closing Ceremony. There were 20 bands and performers at the event; 30 photographers and 20 videographers; 10,000 pink ribbons; 100 sponsors and underwriters; Ford Motor Company's Warriors in Pink drummers, apparel and interactive trailer; 1,300 volunteers; 1,400 survivors, many who danced on the pink carpet; special areas for children, survivors and co-survivors; live coverage by several media outlets; and so much more.

This year's Honorary Chairs included Senator Carl Levin and Ms. Barbara Levin, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Congressman John Dingell and Ms. Debbie Dingell, Congressman John Conyers, Congressman Gary Peters and Ms. Colleen Peters, Governor Rick Snyder and First Lady Sue Snyder and Mayor Dave Bing and Detroit's First Lady Yvette Bing.

Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, local presenting sponsor of the Komen Detroit Race, stressed the urgency of cancer research funding.

"With our nation facing budget cuts due to sequestration, it's imperative that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) continue to be fully funded so that the critical work leading to cancer research breakthroughs and prevention continue.

"There are 14 million Americans who are cancer survivors, not including an additional 1.6 million Americans who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Sequestration and cuts to NIH threaten to stall or eliminate groundbreaking basic laboratory research, as well as clinical trials across the nation, which often represent the only viable treatment option left for many cancer patients. It's essential that bipartisan support of cancer research efforts continue so that long-term projects that lead to revolutionary cancer breakthroughs are sustainable, offering hope to patients, both nationally and globally, as well as their families."

Dr. Bepler encouraged everyone to contact their legislators to urge continued federal funding for cancer research.

Katrina Studvent, co-chair of the Komen Detroit Race and seven-year breast cancer survivor reflected on her journey with breast cancer since her diagnosis at age 30.

"Attending the Race for the first time in 2007 helped me feel triumphant in my fight against cancer," Studvent said. "Holding a 1-year survivor sign on stage was an outward expression of what I was going through internally.

"Battling cancer is a journey that can be frightening but it can also end in victory. I feel stronger today and know I'm accomplishing more with my life, in large part due to my initial experience as a Komen volunteer and now in my role as Race co-chair."

Studvent added, "Breast cancer does not discriminate. Every woman, and man, regardless of where they live, how much money they make or the color of her skin, should have access to early detection and quality care for breast cancer. It's up to each one of us to help make that happen."

Donations will continue to be accepted for the 2013 Komen Detroit Race through July 1. Visit http://www.karmanoscancer.org/KomenDetroit/donate.aspx

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2013 RACE SPONSORS
The Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure®, locally presented by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, is grateful for the support of its generous national and local sponsors. The National Series Sponsors include: American Airlines, Ford Motor Company, New Balance, RE/MAX, SELF Magazine, Stanley Steemer, Sun Chips and Walgreens. The National Breast Cancer Survivor Recognition Program Sponsors are Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation Incorporated and Bank of America. The National Volunteer Recognition Sponsor is Quilted Northern Ultra Plush.

Local sponsors included: Absopure, Aditya Birla Minacs, Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), All About Women's Health Boutique, American Laser Skincare, Binson's Home Health Care Centers, Inc., Celgene, Compuware, Daiichi-Sankyo, the Delphi Foundation, Detroit Pistons; Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Tigers, Dykema, Ford Motor Company, Genentech, Heart & Vascular Institute, HP, Kelly Services, Marathon Petroleum Company, LLC., McDonald's, McLaren Oakland Foundation, Meijer, Metro East Chapter of Credit Unions, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA), Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MIANA), Morgan Stanley, New Balance Farmington Hills & Troy, Nordstrom, Oakwood Healthcare Foundation Olympia Development, Panera Bread, Quicken Loans, Republic Services, Team Detroit, UAW Local 245, UPS, Wahl Tents, Wayne State University and Western & Southern Life Financial Group.

Media Partners were: 97.1 The Ticket, 99.5 WYCD, 104.3 WOMC, AMP 98.7, CBS 62- CW 50, CBS Outdoor, FM 98 WJLB, Fresh 100.3, HOUR Detroit Magazine, Local 4/ WDIV–TV, Michigan Chronicle Living Well, Middle Eastern American TV & Radio, Mix 92.3, Observer & Eccentric Media, Talk Radio 1270 WXYT, Under the Radar Michigan, WKQI Channel 955, WMXD, WJBK FOX 2, WWJ Newsradio 950, and WXYZ Channel 7.

About Susan G. Komen
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 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 cures

Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, Komen has invested more than $1.9 billion to fulfill the 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, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

Komen Detroit Race for the Cure is a top-tier event in Komen's international series of 145 5Ks in which 1.6 million will participate this year. Locally presented by Karmanos Cancer Institute since Detroit's first Race in 1992, Komen Detroit has raised and invested more than $23 million excluding 2013 funds. Operating as a year-round community resource, Komen Detroit provides breast cancer education, patient and family navigation, public policy/advocacy and volunteer opportunities. To connect, visit the website at www.karmanoscancer.org/KomenDetroit, become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/komendetroit, email [email protected] or call 248.304.2080.

About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Located in mid-town Detroit, Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Caring for nearly 6,000 new patients annually on a budget of $265 million, conducting more than 700 cancer-specific scientific investigation programs and clinical trials, Karmanos is among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 physicians and researchers on faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. Its long-term partnership with the WSU School of Medicine enhances the collaboration of critical research and academics related to cancer care. Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., is the Institute's president and chief executive officer. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266) or go to www.karmanos.org.

SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute