Published in The Plain Dealer (front page of the Metro section). Print version (PDF) PAGE 1 and PAGE 2.
Also published on Cleveland.com: http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2012/08/susan_g_komen_3-day_event_in_c.html
By Casey Capachi
CLEVELAND — A procession of pink consisting of about 650 walkers — down from 1,000 participants last year — finished their 60-mile trek on Sunday in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Cleveland 3-Day.
The number of participants this year dropped by about a third, according to organizers. This echoed participation in Boston’s 3-Day, the first of 14 events to be held nationwide. Boston attracted just over 1,000 walkers — down from 1,700 last year.
The 3-Day events raise money for breast cancer research and community programming promoting breast health.
“We did have a drop in participation numbers, which affected money raised for this year, which is unfortunate,” said Sheri Phillips, national spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure 3-Day.
“Komen has always had, and continues to have, a focus on low-income and uninsured women and those are the ones who will be hurt.”
Earlier this year, Komen received a flood of criticism for announcing it would pull funding from Planned Parenthood’s breast cancer screening services. Komen officials said that an investigation launched by a Republican congressman questioning Planned Parenthood’s use of federal money prevented them from continuing funding for the organization. Three days later, amidst public backlash, Komen reversed its decision. Abortions account for about 4 percent of Planned Parenthood’s service for which no federal money is used.
Seventy-five percent of net proceeds from the 3-Days go to fund national research and large public health outreach programs, Phillips said. The remaining 25 percent supports local community and affiliate programs.
Fundraising was down this year, too. Cleveland’s 650 participants raised nearly $2 million, which was $500,000 less than last year.
“Our Komen 3-Day walkers are stronger than ever,” said Phillips. But Komen is always “reevaluating the entire 3-Day event” from everything from “marketing down to menu items.”
Kathy Giller, 56, a homemaker from Akron, was the highest-grossing fundraiser at the Cleveland 3-Day for the fourth year in a row. Giller raised just over $23,000.
“There is no magic behind my fundraising other than I’m very relentless,” she said about financing her passion to find a cure.
Giller started walking in 2006, six months after her husband finished treatment for male breast cancer. Their first walk was in Boston, before a Cleveland event existed, and this weekend marked their 14th time participating in the 3-Day.
At the closing ceremony on Sunday, hundreds of participants raised a shoe as a tribute to those affected breast cancer. Giller was there with her team, “Breast Man Walking,” named in honor of her husband, a survivor.
“We met people walking from every part of the country and hearing everybody’s stories you get a tremendous sense of hope,” said Giller.
“Together, we’ll get there.”