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News and Events

October 2009

Issue No. 1

The Month of October – What it’s Really About

It seems as though everywhere you look during the month of October you can find pink products, company advertisements in support of breast cancer awareness month and pink ribbons adorning walls, shirts and buildings. The color pink has become synonymous with the fight against breast cancer and allies in this fight appear to be easily identified. October is a great rallying time. I want to challenge you to look at this month in two new, and very important, ways.

Our Southern Arizona Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is celebrating 10 years of service to our Southern Arizona community this fall, and I firmly believe that this organization and local affiliate have played a critical role in shaping the services and programs available to meet the breast health and breast cancer needs of our community. Our messages and our work have been so much more than mere awareness of this disease, they have been intentional actions and strategic plans created to make a lasting and significant impact in the lives of those diagnosed with breast cancer, their families, and forward progress in finding the cures. We have left footprints behind, marking our trek in this war on breast cancer and we have never been meek or timid in our approach to empower our community with the tools to fight for their lives.

Breast cancer happens 365 days a year, so let’s capitalize on this month of pink and this media spotlight and let’s take some bold steps in making this the Breast Self-Awareness Month, because making an impact in this war will take a dynamic force that can only be made by all of us acting together. So what can each of us do?

  • Let’s talk about more than early detection and let’s focus on Empowerment through self-awareness and self-advocacy with 4 easy steps...
    • Know your risk for breast cancer – 80% of those diagnosed have NO FAMILY HISTORY, but if you do, talk with your doctor about it, and know that other factors can increase your risk for breast cancer.
    • Get Screened – use those early detection tools to catch breast cancer in it’s earliest stages, because for the majority of breast cancers, the earlier you detect it the greater your chance of survival.
    • Know what’s normal for you – do self-breast exams and know how your breasts look and feel! It’s not just about finding lumps. The better you know your body and breasts, the more you will be able to identify something out of the ordinary and report those changes to your doctor.
    • Lead a healthy lifestyle – exercise and eat right. This is a risk reduction tool for many diseases, but it also can reduce your risk of some types of breast cancer. Preventing breast cancer is something we don’t talk enough about and diet and exercise are some things we can control.
      • Lead a healthy lifestyle – exercise and eat right. This is a risk reduction tool for many diseases, but it also can reduce your risk of some types of breast cancer. Preventing some types of breast cancer is something we don’t talk enough about and diet and exercise are some things we can control.


  • When you support a product or a company advocating that their product supports breast cancer research, look into where your money goes!
    • Running RibbonNot every pink product actually benefits a breast cancer organization and to take that a step further, those that do should be disclosing their contribution commitment. Just because it’s pink doesn’t mean it’s making a difference, so check it out first.
    • Feel good about who you are supporting! – There are several breast cancer organizations who are doing great things in this fight against breast cancer so look for the specifics on the beneficiary of your dollars and find the products that contribute to the organizations you support. For Susan G. Komen for the Cure, our brand is unique and easy to identify. Look for the running ribbon or log onto our website to find products that will benefit our local affiliate.

So during the month of October I would like to challenge us all to really think about what it means to put on that pink, or buy that pink item that has been catching your eye. If you are going to wear it, buy it or support it, be an ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast self-awareness and donor accountability. Know who you are supporting and where your money is going. And make this the month of Breast Self-Awareness and take the first steps towards your own fight for the cure. Don’t just stop with the month of October. Let’s commit together to carrying this torch to the end. We made a promise to end breast cancer forever, and it started with 2 sisters. Now it’s up to all of us to join together and finish it.

Warm Regards,
Beverly Kruse

Executive Director

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It’s Time to Consider Cancer

Did you know that...?

  • 1.5 million people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer in 2009.
  • More than 562,000 will die this year.
  • There are more than 11 million cancer survivors in the U.S. today.
  • Cancer patients and survivors have some of the most difficult experiences with the health care system at a time in their lives when they are most vulnerable.

Health Care Reform is a hot topic, and one that seems to create great divide. In the midst of this heated debate, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is speaking up. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Advocacy Alliance is the non-partisan voice of 2.5 million breast cancer survivors and the people that love them. We focus on reforms that directly affect cancer patients and survivors and we are calling on Congress to consider cancer as they debate proposals to reform the nation’s healthcare system.

More than 46 million Americans lack health insurance, and lack of adequate health insurance coverage means lower screening rates, more advanced cancer at diagnosis and lower chances of survival. Uninsured cancer patients have lower survival rates than patients with private insurance – they are 60% more likely to die than their insured counterparts. And having insurance may not protect you from financial ruin. In fact, a recent study by Harvard University found that half of all bankruptcy filings were partly the result of medical expenses and that 68 percent of those who filed for bankruptcy had health insurance.

It's up to us to ensure the needs of cancer patients: increased funding for early detection and patient navigation services, improved access to health insurance, and protections from financial hardship for patients with insurance – are all included in the final health care package.

The experiences of cancer patients everywhere call us to action, and we can speak with one voice together, ensuring our message to consider the needs of cancer patients and their families is heard loud and clear.

Join us and become a Champion for the Cure. www.komensaz.org

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Where Does That Money Go Anyway?

Do you know what happens with the donations we receive each year?
Our promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to discover the cures. We use 75% of the funds raised locally for outreach initiatives in our Southern Arizona community, public policy efforts and grant programs, all with the objective of changing the landscape of breast cancer. Each year, we grant funds to agencies within our service area which provide services throughout Southern Arizona, addressing identified needs based upon our Community Profile Report. Our services reach the counties of Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Yuma, Graham and Greenlee.

Since 1999 we have granted nearly $4 million to organizations in our community. Last year we were able to fund $704,000 to provide breast health and breast cancer support in the areas of screening, treatment and education. We also provide funding for small grants, educational events and conferences, and travel scholarships. Without donors like you, this funding would not be possible and many people in Southern Arizona would go without life saving services.

Our newest Community Profile Report is an assessment of our six county service area and identifies current breast health/breast cancer resources and gaps in those services. In June 2009 we issued a Request for Applications, asking our Southern Arizona agencies to respond to the breast health and breast cancer needs of our community. New applications are currently being reviewed and funding recommendations are being assembled. In November we will be announcing our 2009-2010 grant recipients.

We promised, and we are taking action.

You can access information about all our grants’ programs as well as the Community Profile Report at www.Komensaz.org/grantprograms.html

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IMPACT, MAKE ONE!

If you have thought about volunteering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, but haven’t taken that first step, consider this...

...People who have spent time volunteering for a cause report that they get back in satisfaction and joy more than they ever expend in inconvenience or effort. They also report experiencing one or more of the following:

  • Learning new skills;
  • Creating new contacts which helped their business or career;
  • Becoming more involved and in touch with their community;
  • Feeling needed as a result of their contributions;
  • Meeting new people and making new friends;
  • making an immeasurable difference.

At our Southern Arizona Susan G. Komen for the Cure, we have a wide variety of volunteer positions to choose from, providing you options that fit within your schedule demands. Some positions are at our office or yours, and others are out in the community. Some may provide opportunity 2 hours at a time, and others provide ongoing opportunity for those seeking a greater time commitment. So whether you are looking for a lot of responsibility or just looking to help us when you are able, we have the position for you. Help us fulfill our promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

If you are interested in becoming involved with us as a volunteer please visit our web site and read more about volunteering. Fill out a volunteer application, or call our office at 319-0155 and speak with Marlana.

"In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it."

Marianne Williamson

Current Volunteer Opportunities
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and we are in need of volunteers who are interested in getting out into the community to attend health fair and community fundraising activities which help spread awareness and raise money. Events range from health fairs at local community centers to educational conferences at the University and concerts downtown. If you are interested in this type of volunteer opportunity, we will provide detailed training to ensure you feel comfortable acting as an ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and our Promise.

If you are seeking something with more involvement over the full year, then you may be interested in serving as a Committee member for our Race for the Cure, Advocacy or Education committees. We are seeking volunteers to help us plan initiatives, including our premier fundraiser and Southern Arizona’s largest single day event - the Komen Southern Arizona Race for the Cure.

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