Survivor & Memorial Activities

Thank you, Joanne Mancini, Donna Stoner, and Laura Zubeck Survivor & Memorial Activities Co-Chairs! You and generous supporters and volunteers make our Race very special for survivors and families. Following are some of the ways we do this in our year-round Komen Detroit activities:

We've added a section to this site, where you can see photos of some of our brave friends who lost their battle to breast cancer. Please scroll down to "Lost Loved Ones."

Survivor and Platinum Club member, Barb Roller, provided inspiration to a local dance group to perform a dance in dedication of all survivors, to the Melissa Etheridge song "I Run for Life." Click here to view the performance.

Survivor Café - A special place for Survivors. . .

Thank you, Donna Stoner and Pam Binson, Survivor Café Co-Chairs!

Thank you to Binson's Home Health Care Centers, Inc., and Quicken Loans, 2010 Survivor Café sponsors.

Our Survivor Café welcomes survivors and their guests with a light breakfast and loving hugs. Arabic- and Spanish-speaking volunteers welcome survivors who do not speak English.

Every year the Survivor Café is lovingly dedicated in memory of Geri Lester. Geri served on the Komen Detroit Planning Committee from its inception through 2003. She dedicated herself to bringing supportive and educational services to the metropolitan Detroit cancer community and was one of the founding members of Gilda's Club Metro Detroit. Geri always saw the good in others, the gifts in everyday living and the hope in every situation. She lost her 20-year battle to breast cancer in May 2003, but her brave and cheerful attitude in the face of her own disease remains an inspiration to us all.

Pink Ribbon Program

Thank you, Charity Ferguson, Matt Moceri, Claudia Zilinski, and Laura Zubeck, Pink Ribbon Program Committee! We need 10,000 ribbons all over again - if you can help, please email raceforthecure@karmanos.org.

The Pink Ribbon Program is sponsored by Creative Designs and Kelly Services, with generous support from the Michigan Association of CPAs (MACPA) and all of the volunteers who decorate ribbons and help "pink up our town! Click here for more information about the Pink Ribbon Program. It is not too early to decorate your ribbon! Creative Designs - Creative Care, a Pink Ribbon sponsor for the 2010 Race, has set up a "Pink Ribbon Station" in their store. Stop by and decorate a ribbon in memory of or in honor of a loved one who has been touched by breast cancer. The decorated ribbons will be hung on the Race route to "Pink up Woodward" on May 22. There is no charge to decorate a ribbon. Creative Designs - Creative Care is located at 39753 Garfield, Clinton Township, 48038 (west side of Garfield at 17 ½ Mile in the Bridgewood Commons Shopping Center). The store is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - 10am to 5 pm, Saturday - 10 am to 4 pm, and is closed on Wednesday and Saturday. Please call if you have any questions: (586) 412-9000.

Survivor Trolley

Thank you, Daphne Philson, Survivor Trolley Chair!

Thank you Entertainment Express, Inc. for providing the Survivor Trolley. The Survivor Trolley is for breast cancer survivors who are unable to walk the Race route, but want to be part of the festivities. You must be a breast cancer survivor and registered for the Race to ride the trolley. The Survivor Trolley is sponsored by Community Care Associates, Inc. Please email raceforthecure@karmanos.org by May 14 if you would like to secure a spot. Space is limited!

Komen Detroit Race for the Cure® Stage - Where it all begins and ends

Thank you to the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA), and to Art Van Furniture, our Stage sponsors. The Stage hosts the Opening Ceremony, emceed by Lila Lazarus and the Closing Ceremony featuring Heather Zara from WDIV Local 4.

Thank you, Sheryl Hogan and Barb Werling, Ceremonies and Stage Co-Chairs, and to MACPA, our Green Room Hosts!

We encourage survivors to view the ceremonies from the bleachers and be sure to dance to the beat of our volunteer Warriors in Pink drummers, powered by Ford. When FM 98 WJLB's Foolish calls, you'll be dancing on a beautiful pink carpet donated by Independent Carpet One Floor & Home of Westland.

2009 Opening Ceremony Memories - "May you stay forever young!"

Lila Lazarus was with us again, along with dignitaries to welcome the crowd, music to touch our hearts and survivors to remind us - more and more - that breast cancer is a survivable disease. Nearly 1,500 breast cancer survivors joined us to laugh, cry, sing, dance, walk and "run for life." Thanks to FOX2's live broadcast on top of Hockeytown Cafe, viewers were able to enjoy the Race from home and make plans to be with us in 2010.

Ursula Walker and Buddy Budson led the survivors in song. Bagpipers George and Patrick Guffey helped us all honor lost loved ones.

Minister April Hearn, from New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit, got the morning off to a great start by leading the crowd in an inspirational prayer. The New Prospect Choir, led by Brother James Newby, sang "Hold On" to honor the survivors. New Prospect has been supporting the Race for many years as one of our largest community teams. Thank you New Prospect!

Our thanks to Dr. Ann Schwartz (Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Karmanos Cancer Institute), and Judy Adams (Director of the Affiliate Network of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Headquarters, Dallas, TX) and the Survivor Honor Guard for appearing in the 2009 Opening Ceremony.

Our community Volunteer Warriors in Pink Drummers powered by Ford, were joined by community volunteers including the Spirit Drum Corps. Throughout the morning, these special musicians brought power, passion and excitement to our event. Thanks to everyone who contributed, especially Ford, Team Detroit, the volunteer drummers and Music Co-Chair Mary Mataczynski!

2009 Closing Ceremony Memories - Where EVERYONE is a winner

Just before the ceremony began, WJLB's Foolish transformed the wait into magic by encouraging survivors to dance down the pink carpet. Once again, the Ford Warriors in Pink drummers helped make this very special.

Heather Zara (WDIV Local 4) joined us to close our Race with awards. The crowd touched her heart and her compassion and energy touched ours. Heather was there from the earliest moments with fellow WDIV Local 4 News Morning Team members Eric Braate, Guy Gordon, Rhonda Walker and Paula Tutman.

Top racers and award-winning teams were honored. Click here for Race results. Special awards for breast cancer survivors include:

• Top 3 overall breast cancer survivors
  Amy Krzyzanowski (20:31)
  Michele Hendrick (21:33)
  Linda Ewing (22:26)
• First Place Master Survivor (40 – 50)- Karen Rosinski (24:52)
• First Place Senior Survivor (56 or older)- Merion Knight (28:00)
• The Alexa Kraft Award, named for a talented Detroit runner who died of breast cancer at age 39 in 1988. This award is given to the first-place survivor. This year's winner was Amy Krzyzanowski (20:31).

Alexa Kraft Award - Remembering Alexa's spirit and her skill

One of Detroit's most talented female runners, Alexa Kraft, died of breast cancer 18 years ago at the age of 39. We've named the First Place Overall award in the survivor category in memory of Alexa Kraft. Thanks, Kraft family, for presenting this award to the 2009 winner, Amy Krzyzanowski (20:31).

Honorary Team New Balance - Celebrating fitness after cancer

Honorary Team New Balance celebrates stories of cancer survival and communicates positive messages about fitness after cancer. The 2009 Komen Detroit Honorary Team New Balance Member was Katie Clark. In 2008 we were joined by a member of the National Honorary Team New Balance, Mark Goldstein. This was Mark's 22nd Komen Race; he is a breast cancer survivor, and finished Detroit's Race with a time of 41:25.

• EDS/HP, winner of the 2009 Detroit Shock "Pretty in Pink" Award for the team with the greatest number of survivors was honored by the WNBA Champs on September 9 at the Palace of Auburn Hills. We miss our Shock and wish them well in Tulsa!
• Barb's Battalion, won the 2009 Visions Spa Salon "Spirit" Award.
• Kimmi's Army to Save Second Base, won the 2009 Outback Steakhouse "Co-Survivor" Award. Click here to read Kimmi's Army to Save Second Base's story.

Check here to see how your team can win next year!

Signing - Welcoming deaf and hard-of-hearing communities

Again this year, because breast cancer touches us all and we want everyone to feel welcome, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies were signed for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Thank you, Maureen Wagner.

Co-Survivor Program - Helping the people we care about cope with breast cancer

Thank you, Lindsay Casetta, Co-Survivor Program Co-Chair!

A "Co-Survivor" is the key supporter(s) of a breast cancer survivor or patient, living or deceased, who made/makes a significant difference in that person's cancer journey. There are as many ways to be a co-survivor as there are people. Thoughtful gestures big and small mean so much to survivors, whether they've just been diagnosed or completed treatment years ago. The big and small ways you help show your strength, love and support through diagnosis, during treatment and beyond.

The Komen Detroit Race for the Cure® recognizes co-survivorship in the following ways:

• Survivors honor the special person whose help made a real difference with a symbolic "Co-Survivor" gift in the Survivor Café.
• "Co-Survivor" Award, awarded to the team that submits the most inspiring co-survivor story (one-time per team). Each team is allowed one submission of 500 words or less. Click here to learn more. The 2009 winner: Kimmi's Army to Save Second Base with award sponsored by Outback Steakhouse. 2008 winner: It's 'R' Time for a Cure with award sponsored by Tourneau. 2007 winner: Kaye's Lucky Charms with award sponsored by Coldwater Creek. 2006 winner: Stay & Play for a Cure with award sponsored by Tourneau - world's largest watch store! 2005 winner: Allison's Army with award sponsored by DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse).
• "Children are Co-Survivors, Too!" at the 2010 Whole Foods Market Children's Area. A Race-day display of photos, artwork and stories depicting co-survivorship from a child's perspective.

Thank you, Julie Lupinacci (ZTA), Local Chair - National Series Breast Cancer Survivor Recognition Program!

Susan G. Komen for the Cure began its partnership with Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) fraternity, in partnership with the ZTA Foundation, in 1992. As a sponsor of the National Series Breast Cancer Survivor Recognition Program at Komen Race for the Cure® events, ZTA members nationwide volunteer countless hours in support of local Race events. Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation has funded a variety of programs associated with the fight against breast cancer. Zetas have distributed more than 9.25 million waterproof Breast Self Examination Shower Cards, 5 million Breast Self Examination Calendar Reminder Stickers and 3 million THINK-PINK!® ribbons and information cards in order to promote breast cancer education in numerous local communities.

Wheelchair Availability

Thank you to Binson's Home Health Care Centers, Inc. for providing wheelchairs , on loan for Race day. If you need to reserve a wheelchair on future Race days, please contact us at: raceforthecure@karmanos.org / (248) 351-1861.

Breast Cancer Outreach & Education - Life-saving information

Thank you, Andrea Layman, Phyllis Nelson and Laura Zubeck Education Co-Chairs!

Throughout the year, Komen Detroit Race for the Cure® volunteers, with support from Karmanos Cancer Institute, offer breast cancer education opportunities throughout the community. Organizations and teams who are involved with the Race can arrange for onsite presentations or breast health education materials by emailing Joan Dennehy, Breast Cancer Program Specialist at dennehyj@karmanos.org.

Thank you, to the volunteers from Karmanos Cancer Institute for replacing breast cancer myths with facts, wearing their "Myth Bustiers." See if you mistakenly believe a breast cancer myth when you run into one of these friendly educators on Race day.

We were proud to present a Komen for the Cure educational initiative as part of our event. I AM THE CURE.® is a rallying cry to motivate and educate everyone involved with the Race about breast health facts and how they can take charge of their own breast health. Thank you, Teresa Roscoe, I AM THE CURE.® Chair!

Cure Leader teams were at the start and finish lines as well as on the Race route to cheer racers on with these important messages:

• See your doctor, learn your risk, I AM THE CURE.®
• Get mammograms and breast exams, I AM THE CURE.®
• Notice changes to your breasts, I AM THE CURE.®
• Start the fight by living right, I AM THE CURE.®

Stop by the I AM THE CURE.® booth provided for more information and a chance to test your knowledge about these breast health recommendations:

• Talk to your family to learn about your family health history.
• Talk to your doctor about your personal risk of breast cancer and ask which screening tests are right for you.
• Know the simple steps for early detection: annual mammograms, clinical exams and regular breast self-exams.
• Know how your breasts look and feel, and report changes to your health care provider right away.
• Make healthy lifestyle choices that may reduce your breast cancer risk.

For more information about breast health, risk factors and steps you can take, please visit the I AM THE CURE® Web site at www.iamthecure.org.

Memories...pictures worth thousands of words

Thank you, Photojournalism Co-Chairs Sean Keenan and Bill Kern and our wonderful volunteer photographers. Please click here for pictures from the 2009 Race. If you find yourself in a picture, please share a Race day memory by emailing raceforthecure@karmanos.org.

Please visit http://DetroitRFTC.dotphoto.com to see and buy photos from the 2009 Race. Proceeds benefit the Komen Detroit Race for the Cure®.

This year, more than 40,000 women will die from breast cancer in the U.S. alone. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the friends and families who suffer this terrible loss. In their memory, we redouble our energies in the battle to end breast cancer forever.

Additional photos taken of survivors over the past few years appear here, and images of friends we have lost to breast cancer, appear here. If you have a photo you would like us to add, please send it with identifying information to raceforthecure@karmanos.org (electronic images only, please).

Click here to Share Your Story of Celebration and/or Memory.