Self-Improvement
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The Power of the
Individual
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
National Race for the Cure® Recognizes the Extreme Value of One
and the Dynamic Force of Many
Carol Anderson's family is the most important part of her life.
So, eight years ago when she found out that her son and
daughter-in-law were expecting her first grandchild, she was
ecstatic. Then, just five months before the baby was due, Carol
was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was then that Carol promised
herself to do everything she could to ensure she was around when
her grandchild was born.
That December, Megan Anderson was born and Carol was there to
see her. That was also the year Carol began volunteering for the
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the leading catalyst in
the fight against breast cancer today.
"It was my way of giving back. When my granddaughter was
born, I thought, 'I need to do everything I can to eradicate
this,'" she said. "My motivation for volunteering is
that I don't want my granddaughter to ever have to face breast
cancer."
Carol is one of more than 75,000 volunteers in more than 100
U.S. cities and three countries that work with the Komen
Foundation through programs like the Komen National Race for the
Cure® to raise funds and awareness to fight breast cancer.
Through dedicated volunteers, the Komen Foundation has become the
most progressive grassroots organization fighting breast cancer in
the world today.
Calling her grandchildren her passion in life, Carol strives to
have the type of close relationship with her grandchildren that
she shared with her own grandparents. Her goal is to do whatever
is necessary to make an impression on the lives of her
grandchildren. Which is why her diagnosis with breast cancer was a
shock - she was in denial. Then she took action.
Carol became active in the Komen National Race. She organized a
team at the cancer clinic where she worked. She volunteered on
Race Day. Like so many others that make the Komen National Race
possible, she did whatever she could.
"Wherever they need help, I say put me down and I will
show up," she said. "The Komen Foundation is especially
important to me because it gives me peace to know I am doing
something to help someone else."
The Komen National Race for the Cure®, like the other 112
Komen Races nationwide, is run mostly by volunteers like Carol.
More than 3,000 volunteers play a critical role in making the
Komen National Race a reality. Every single volunteer makes a
difference and together the volunteers form a dynamic force that
makes the event a success year after year.
This year, Carol has given even more of herself by decorating
and hosting a dinner table at Embrace the Race, the official
kick-off dinner for the 2003 Komen National Race. Breast cancer
survivors hosted Race sponsors and members of Congress to thank
them for their continued support of the Komen National Race.
Carol's table was also hosted by her inspiration - her 8-year old
granddaughter, Megan.
"Before the event, we were told to write a short biography
on ourselves so our table members would know a little about
us," she explained. "Megan read mine the other day and
said 'Wow, Grandma, I had no idea that I was your reason to
live."
Passing that Komen spirit on to the next generation is what the
Komen Foundation is all about. Carol's promise to her
granddaughter is symbolic of the promise that created the Komen
Foundation.
The Komen Foundation was founded in 1982 on a promise made
between two sisters - Nancy Brinker and her dying sister, Susan G.
Komen. Twenty years later, the Komen Foundation is the largest
private source of funding for breast cancer research and
community-based outreach programs. Today, the Foundation
celebrates the power of a promise and how a single person's vision
and determination, like Carol's, can make a difference in the
lives of millions.
With the help of the thousands of volunteers, the Foundation is
able to give almost every dollar raised to breast cancer research
and community-based outreach programs. General administrative and
overhead expenses for the Foundation, including fundraising, are
held to less than 25 percent.
The Komen National Race for the Cure® is constantly seeking
groups of volunteers for registration support as well as
individuals or groups who can work during office hours to help
plan and promote the Race. Race Day reaches full volunteer
capacity very quickly. If you wish to be involved on Race Day,
please submit your request promptly.
If you'd like to join Carol and other volunteers, please visit www.nationalraceforthecure.org
to download the volunteer sign-up sheet. Email the completed
sign-up sheet to mcadle@nationalraceforthecure.org
or fax to 703-243-6586 for inclusion in the volunteer database. At
no time will your information be shared outside of the Komen
National Race For The Cure®. If you have any additional
questions, please call 703-848-8884.
The latest information about the 2003 Komen Race for the Cure®
Series can be found by calling (888) 603-RACE or visiting www.komen.org.
For information about breast health or breast cancer, visit the
Komen Foundation's Web site, www.komen.org,
or call its National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline, 1.800 I M
AWARE (1.800.462.9273).
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