THE ST. LOUIS AFFILIATE OF SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE® DECLARES OCTOBER 28TH AS PASSIONATELY PINK FOR THE CURE® DAY
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
By: Erica Stelling

The St. Louis Affiliate Of Susan G. Komen For The Cure® Declares October 28th As Passionately Pink For The Cure® Day

St. Louis – October 20, 2009 – In observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the St. Louis Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has declared October 28, 2009 as the area’s official Passionately Pink for the Cure Day.  The national fundraising and education program makes it easy for anyone and everyone to play a part in ending breast cancer forever.

This fundraising and awareness program was developed two years ago as an easy but effective way for groups around the country to show their support in the effort to end the disease forever. Anyone can participate, with groups ranging from soccer moms to CEOs supporting Komen’s promise.  They are going Passionately Pink and helping to drive awareness of the disease that without the cures could kill an estimated 465,000 people this year alone! 

Last year, more than 8,000 businesses, schools, places of worship and social organizations nationwide joined the global breast cancer movement by participating in Passionately Pink for the Cure. This year, the St. Louis Affiliate is challenging local organizations large and small with the question “Are You Inspired to Save a Life?” 

“St. Louis is dedicated to creating a world without breast cancer.  Most importantly, I want everyone living in our community who has been touched by the devastation of breast cancer to know we are fighting for them – by participating in Passionately Pink for the Cure on October 28th,” said Helen Chesnut, Executive Director of the Komen St. Louis Affiliate. “Seventy-five percent of the funds raised will stay right here in our community, helping fund breast cancer screening, treatment, education, and research programs. The remaining funds will go toward national breast cancer research aimed at discovering and delivering the cures.”

Passionately Pink for the Cure began as a workplace giving program, and has now extended beyond companies to include social organizations, schools and groups of friends. Anyone can get a group together and go Passionately Pink by having group participants wear pink or planning an event to honor breast cancer survivors.

To participate, group organizers simply register at www.passionatelypink.org and select Oct. 28 as the day their group will participate.  Groups are encouraged to be creative and to make Passionately Pink for the Cure a fun and educational day. Groups can incorporate activities, contests and guest speakers to honor and remember breast cancer survivors.

After registering, the group organizers will receive fulfillment kits with details about the program, uniquely designed collector’s lapel pins and creative ideas for going Passionately Pink. On the chosen event day, the organizers then collect donations from each participant and send the funds to Komen for the Cure in the envelope provided.

For more information on Passionately Pink for the Cure Day in St. Louis, contact Erica Stelling – estelling@komenstlouis.org or 314-569-3900.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the Komen St. Louis Affiliate
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. The St. Louis Affiliate of Komen for the Cure is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in the local community joining more than 1 million breast cancer survivors and activists around the globe as part of the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer. Through events like the Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure®, the St. Louis Affiliate has invested over $11 million in community breast health programs in 17 counties in the Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois region. Up to 75 percent of net proceeds generated by the Affiliate stays in the St. Louis area. The remaining income goes to the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program to fund research. For more information, call 314-569-3900 or visit www.komenstlouis.org.
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