First Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Comes to the Coast

In 2014, it is estimated there will be 40,000 breast cancer deaths in the United States. Saturday, one of the largest breast cancer awareness events in the world is making its debut in south Mississippi. The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K will start at 9 a.m. at Jones Park in Gulfport.

The Susan G. Komen organization has invested more than $2.5 billion into working to end breast cancer in the United States and the world. So many people have personal connections to breast cancer and organizers of Saturday’s event want to bring higher quality care to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Catherine Young, Executive Director of the Susan G. Komen Mississippi Affiliate, says, “I have a personal friend, a very close friend that developed breast cancer at the age of 21. She had to have a radical mastectomy, but she’s fine now, and my great, great aunt, Fanny Lou Hamer, of course died from breast cancer, so it’s very personal to me. As well as to make sure other ladies have quality access to breast health services in Mississippi from the Delta all the way down to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”

WXXV is the top sponsor of Saturday’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K and will be walking with those at the event.