Communiqué
The 2nd Annual Komen Race for the Cure is Scheduled for Athens Oct. 23
By: Tom Hodson
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The second annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is scheduled for Athens on October 23.
Honorary co-chairs of the event are both breast cancer survivors. Mary Dupler, a single mother from Somerset, Ohio who has been cancer free for one-year and Cindy Oremus who battled the disease four times but has been cancer free for the past 16 years.
Both women talked with WOUB’s Tom Hodson about their experiences with breast cancer and their dedication to the Race for the Cure to raise awareness, research dollars and support for other cancer victims.
WOUB also talked with Julie McMahon who is Director of Mission at Komen Columbus. She talked about the organization’s cancer fighting efforts in 30 Ohio Counties.
This year $1.46 million was donated to 21 programs in the service area and 11 of those program served southeast Ohio, according to McMahon.
Southeast Ohio has one-third of the diagnoses and deaths for breast cancer in the 30 county area serviced by Komen and a higher death rate than the rest of the country, McMahon says.
Last year, Athens was the only spot in the country for a new Komen race.
Komen has delivered almost $1.1 million in services through the Ohio University Healthy Adult Project, Holzer, O’Bleness Hospital, Marietta Memorial, Genesis, Adena, Southern Ohio Medical Center, Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center and local health departments in Vinton, Perry and Hocking counties, according to Komen figures.