Survivor & Memorial Activities

Thank you, Donna Stoner and Laura Zubeck, 2008 Survivor & Memorial Activities Co-Chairs! You and generous supporters and volunteers make our Race very special for Survivors and families. These are some of the ways:

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, 2008 Survivor Café Co-Chairs!

Thank you to Binson's Home Health Care Centers, Inc. and UAW Region 1A, 2008 Survivor Café sponsors. Survivors, please visit the Café and bring along one special co-survivor you'd like to honor.

Our Survivor Café is held prior to the Race, 7 a.m., in front of Comerica Park, offering a light breakfast for breast cancer survivors and one guest each. Survivors mingle with other invited guests including sponsors and project leaders of programs funded by the previous year's Race proceeds. Arabic- and Spanish-speaking volunteers welcome survivors who do not speak English.

The Survivor Café is lovingly dedicated in memory of Geri Lester. Geri served on the Race 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 - We need 10,000! Please help.

Thank you, Missy Goodstein, Katie Davis, and Matt Moceri, 2008 Pink Ribbon Program Co-Chairs!

The 2008 Pink Ribbon Program is sponsored by Creative Designs, with generous support from Binson's Home Health Care Centers, Inc. and all of the volunteers who help "pink up our town!"  Your group can get a head start by decorating ribbons now... and join us at Expo, May 30 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Max to decorate and hang your ribbons. You can grab them when you race by on Saturday, May 31! Click here to learn how you can help.

Survivor Trolley - Hey, Survivor! Don't miss out because you're not feeling quite up to it.

Thank you, Laura Zubeck, Survivor Trolley Chair!

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 2008 Stage sponsors. The Stage hosts the Opening Ceremony, emceed by FOX 2's Lila Lazarus and and the Closing Ceremony emceed by WDIV Local 4's Rhonda Walker. Please see the 2007 highlights below.

Thank you, Sheryl Hogan and Barb Werling, Ceremonies and Stage Co-Chairs, and to MACPA president and CEO Peggy Dzierzawski, Green Room Host!

Special thanks, too, to Midtown Corner Café for providing treats for our celebrities.

2007 Opening Ceremony Memories - "May you stay forever young!"

Lila Lazarus (FOX2) was with us again, along with dignitaries to welcome the crowd, music to touch our hearts and survivors to remind us that - more and more - 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, viewers were able to enjoy the Race from home and make plans to be with us in 2008.

Ursula Walker and Buddy Budson led the survivors in song. Bagpiper David Kohler and his students 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 "Anything is Possible" 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 Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick Detroit Police Chief (and breast cancer survivor) Ella Bully-Cummings , Dr. Stephen Ethier (Deputy Director, Karmanos Cancer Institute), Stefan Strickland (Director, Affiliate Network, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Headquarters, Dallas, TX) and the Survivor Honor Guard for appearing in the 2007 Opening Ceremony.

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!

2007 Closing Ceremony Memories - Where EVERYONE is a winner

Just before the ceremony began, WJLB's SunShyne transformed the wait into magic by encouraging survivors to dance down the pink carpet donated by Mohawk. Once again, the Ford Warriors in Pink drummers and the Karmanos Cancer Institute Spirit Drum Corps helped make this very special.

Kim Adams (WDIV Local 4) joined us last year to close our Race with awards. The crowd touched her heart and her compassion touched ours.

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
• First Place Master Survivor (40 – 50)
• First Place Senior Survivor (56 or older)
• 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.

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

One of Detroit's most talented female runners, Alexa Kraft, died of breast cancer 16 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 2007 winner, Wendy Schrag (21:52).

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 2007 Komen Detroit Honorary Team New Balance Member was Merion Knight, championship Senior Survivor Racer, who is also a member of the Komen Detroit Race Planning Committee.

• Karmanos Cancer Institute, winner of the 2007 Detroit Shock "Pretty in Pink" Award for the team with the greatest number of survivors (18); honored by the WNBA Champs on June 27 at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Detroit Shock won 77 to 74 against the Connecticut Sun. Congratulations ladies! This year's winning team will be honored at the September 9 game.
• Amanda's Army of Angels, winner of the 2007 Visions Spa Salon "Spirit" Award. Will your team match Amanda's in the spirit category this year?
• Kaye's Lucky Charms, winner of the 2007 Coldwater Creek "Co-Survivor" Award. We'd like an inspiring story from ever team this year. Read Kaye's Lucky Charms' inspiring tale, then enter here to win the 2008 Tourneau Co-Survivor Award.

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 will be 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, Joanne Brandman, Elaine Stanley and Jennifer Ethier (2007), Co-Survivor Program Co-Chairs!

A "Co-Survivor" is the key supporter(s) of a breast cancer survivor or patient, living or deceased, who made 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 and families are invited to honor the special person whose help made a real difference with a symbolic "Co-Survivor" gift in the Survivor Café.
• 2008 Tourneau "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. 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 Visteon Children's Area. A Race-day display of photos, artwork and stories depicting co-survivorship from a child's perspective. SUBMISSIONS ARE NEEDED! Children 17 years of age and under can participate in this by submitting a photo, artwork, or story. Click here to learn more.

Thank you, Tourneau, 2008 sponsor of the "Co-Survivor" Team Award; and Visteon, 2008 sponsor of the "Children are Co-Survivors Too" display near the Visteon Children's Area.

Thank you, Cindy Brozo, (RE/MAX - 2007) and Julie Lupinacci (ZTA), 2008 Local Chairs - National Series Breast Cancer Survivor Recognition Program!

2008 marks the seventhyear of RE/MAX International's co-sponsorship of the Komen Race for the Cure® National Series Breast Cancer Survivor Recognition Program. RE/MAX International, along with co-sponsor Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, celebrates breast cancer survivors by providing the signature pink t-shirts and caps for survivors to wear during the Komen Race for the Cure® events. Race participants receive "In Memory of" and "In Celebration of" back signs to honor a friend or loved one.

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 co-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. Please make advance reservations at (248) 351-1861 or raceforthecure@karmanos.org.

Breast Cancer Outreach & Education - Life-saving information

Thank you, Kelly Brittain and Laura Zubeck, Education Co-Chairs!

At Expo, on Race day and 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 raceforthecure@karmanos.org.

Thank you, to the volunteers from the Karmanos Cancer Institute's Walt Breast Center for replacing breast cancer myths with facts, wearing their "Myth Bustiers."

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.

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

• With mammograms and breast exams, I AM THE CURE.®
• Every person, everywhere, I AM THE CURE.®
• Best protection is early detection, I AM THE CURE.®
• Raise your voices for healthy choices, I AM THE CURE.®

We hope you joined in to shout:

Who's the cure? I am!
What's the cure? We are!
Where's the cure? Right here!
When's the cure? Starts now!

The I AM THE CURE® booth provided more information and a chance to test your knowledge about breast health facts.

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.

Pre-Race Expo Survivor Room

Thank you, Liz Palen and Merion Knight, Expo Survivor Room Co-Chairs!

This is a special place for survivors and their families to come to during the Pre-Race Expo. While they are there, the survivors and their families can obtain breast cancer information, support from other survivors, and also get some special treats.

Memories...pictures worth thousands of words

Thank you, Photography Co-Chairs Sean Keenan and Bill Kern and our wonderful volunteer photographers. Please click here for pictures from the 2007 Race. If you find yourself in a picture, please share a Race day memory by emailing raceforthecure@karmanos.org.

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.