Dear Friends at the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate,

Thank you very much for giving me the privilege to volunteer for the Race for the Cure.  I was so honored and moved by passing out the scarves to the survivors on the Art Museum steps.

Sue Schick, Affiliate Board Member, and CEO of UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual of Pennsylvania and Delaware reflects on the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate Survivors luncheon, upcoming Kids for the Cure: UnitedHealthcare Dash to Make a Difference... and how these two events paint a powerful, hope-filled picture of survival for all generations.

Dear Elaine and Friends at the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate:

I wanted to thank you for taking the time to speak with me this past Saturday and hear a little of my story. I am sure you and your staff hear a lot of them.

From the first time I began participating in the Mother's Day walk in 2005, I have always been moved, and, frankly, amazed by the event...

My name is Lorelei McGlade and I'd like to say how proud I am to be a member of the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate family as a survivor and a mother and volunteer!!

Seven-year-old New Jersey Resident Collects $200 in Change for the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate... because she believes in our mission and the cure!

Long-time supporter confirms she will 'jump' for the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate... to help us and those we serve as we have helped her!

Breaking from form a bit, we share an truly inspirational VOICES entry from 29-year-old breast cancer survivor, Jackie Roth... as shared word for word at our 2012 Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure Kick Off Party in February. On that magical evening after a captivating video of 'Rocky Jackie' taking her victory run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art , Jackie's speech had 300+ people united as they shed tears of compassion and empathy, fist-pumped with determination to finish the fight, and cheered endlessly for the triumphs won as well as those yet to come.

6th grade teacher at William Levering Elementary shares insights about the power of simplicity demonstrated by the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate educational and fundraising program in the School District of Philadelphia this fall.

We welcome Missy Stein as the Survivor Fundraising Chairperson for the 2012 Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure

When Elaine Grobman, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, asked me to be the 2012 Survivor Fundraising Chairperson for the Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure, I was both honored and surprised. As a two-time breast cancer survivor and Philadelphia resident for close to a decade, I've worked with Elaine on many levels from serving as a member of Komen's Speaker's Bureau to chairing events to raise awareness and funds. But...

Loyal Komen Philadelphia Affiliate volunteer reflects on the reality of '1 and 8' during the Keynote Address at our 2011 Volunteer Thank-You Celebration.

Former First Lady, Betty Ford, has left a legacy in our breast cancer movement, opening the door for millions of women when she candidly acknowledged her breast cancer diagnosis. 

A three-year breast cancer survivor from Allentown, PA shares the experience of her first Race for the Cure with the Lehigh Valley community.

A recent breast cancer survivor inspires another with her thoughts on how you mark how long you've been a survivor.

Breast cancer survivor, extraordinary volunteer and the 2011 Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure Honorary Team New Balance Member shares her Race day emotions as a way to connect others in the hope of the Race and all it empowers.

A highly respected organization in the Latino Community offers a special thanks to the organizers of the 2011 Latinas United for the Cure breast health empowerment event.

Dear Elaine:

My daughter has been working with the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate for many years now, the majority of her career. My wife, Eve, and I want to thank you and the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate for the incredible experiences you have given her, for the purpose and enrichment you have brought to her life, and for embracing her in the Komen family.

Dear Elaine & My Friends at the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate,

As you know, This Mother's Day, I will be celebrating my seventh year as a breast cancer survivor at the Cure. Last year, I proudly walked the Survivor Parade of Pink with my aunt Elisa by my side, as my mother looked on below, waiting to embrace us both at the bottom of the Art Museum steps.

Dear Elaine:

I am very luckey to have a mom at Christmas.

 The Komen Philadelphia Affiliate thanks the Fuego Board for recognizing our leader, as well as for their dedication to joining us in breaking down barriers to embrace all cultures in the cures.

Many of you will remember Karen Dwyer Jones, the courageous stage IV breast cancer patient who inspired her nephew, Andrew Fantaskey, and his BAT-L Up Against Breast Cancer program. Sadly, we lost this dear friend in October, but her legacy lives on, as shared by these words from her sister.

My Friends at the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate:

Today was a unique day in that I had two stories rise to the surface, one happy, one a little scary.

Dear Elaine and the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate Family,

I want you to know how honored and lucky I feel working with the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate through my work at The Star Group. Losing my mom to breast cancer about six years ago was the hardest challenge of my life, and every day I think of her courage when I work with you and your wonderful team. 

To Our Friends at the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate,

This past spring, I contacted your office regarding my daughter, Grace's, 10th birthday for which she was doing a "giving back" party. Thank you very much for your contributions of items to help support her fundraising efforts! We were able to include some of the items in our raffle baskets, silent auctions, etc.

To the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate:

I felt it necessary to write you regarding my first experience with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® on Sunday May 9, 2010. 

Dear Loyal Friends of the Race for the Cure,

On May 4, I met a beautiful woman named Karen. If it wasn't for her bald head and my being told she was recently diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, I'd have thought she was the healthiest woman in the world - on that night, she certainly was the happiest. She never ceased smiling, filled with pride as her nephew presented a check on TV at the CBS 3 Call for the Cure.

To the Caring Family at the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate,

In September I lost my Granny, Frances Serody, to cervical cancer. The day she passed, I made a promise to myself that I would do whatever I could possibly do to help raise money and awareness for cancer research and outreach.

Inspired to take action to help his aunt fight breast cancer, Andrew Fantaskey, with the support of his friend Joseph Piacine, put together a fundraiser that has, so far, raised $1,500 for the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate.

Each year, Jonah and his family participate in the Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure in honor of his grandmother, who lost her battle with breast cancer in January, 2009.

Dear Friends,

Twenty years ago, I had the honor of serving as the first Co-chairperson of the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure. We had about 1,900 participants. No Survivors Parade of Pink. A handful of volunteers. And about five sponsors.

I suppose Mother's Day 1991 was just like any other Mother's Day except for one thing - my only sister, my best friend had died five years earlier from metastatic breast cancer. She was only 46 years old. I had watched her die an agonizing death and I was still grieving. Looking back, I don't remember very much about that first Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure. All I can remember is feeling close to my sister that cloudy, cool Sunday morning and hoping that a cure would be found for that dreadful disease.

Dear Elaine and the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate.

Thank you for your re-assurance that Susan G. Komen for the Cure dedicates, and always will dedicate, themselves to being our best advocate in the breast cancer movement.

A young woman in need connects with the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate  through another activist plus the work of one of our Grantees and finds hope, friendship and a future

To Elaine and the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate,

My name is Casey Spiwak. I am 23 years old and currently working extremely hard to pay my bills and figure out what I want to do with my life. I discovered two lumps in my breast about three months ago and have since been tirelessly wrestling with my insurance company to pay for what they deem a pre-existing condition. Joyce Mehlman, the wife of a man my boyfriend befriended at his job, gave my name to your organization, and I am writing to personally thank you for taking the time to help me in my awful predicament.

The Komen Philadelphia Affiliate is thanked for bringing hope and healing to a woman in need, through our grantee, The Health Promotion Council of Southeastern PA.

Dear Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Philadelphia:

I, Maria Budihardjo, on behalf of Indonesian people would like to personally thank you for all your supports, physically and materially, during my stay in the USA, especially in Philadelphia where, through the hands of Ms. Natalia Tan, I received HealthyWoman screenings... mammogram and pap smear. I always attend the seminars and I never forget the breast biopsy I had and the follow-up treatments.

The Wellness Community of Delaware offers testimony to the empowerment made possible by a grant from the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate, which funds their outreach program, "Wilmington Breast Cancer Initiative."

My Friends at the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate,

The past four months have been very exciting, the underserved population are getting educated more about Breast Cancer as well as the importance of screening and getting tested.

Dear Elaine and Our Friends at the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate,
 
Megan's family and I are thrilled with how supportive you are of the Megan Ashley Perry Foundation and how open you are to figuring out ways we can support each other in our missions moving forward.

To My Friends at the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate,
 
Thank you so much for the invite to the Komen Philadelphia Volunteer Party - but more importantly thank you for everything you do to help raise the awareness of breast cancer and provide support and funding for research and development.

Candy Briscoe is from N Style Boutique in Berlin, NJ.
Crystal Walker is from 1 of a Kind Boutique in Lawnside, NJ.

Dear Candy and Dear Crystal:

In the past week, I have been singing your praises and been thanking our Heavenly Father for your generosity and your choice to make breast health awareness the focus of your fashion show on May 3, 2009. I continue to feel that your invitation to me is a confirmation from God that I am doing the work he wants me to do. Outreach is very important to me, regarding early detection as I know there is still so much to be done in our community of African Americans, as well as among all people.

I did have a great day at the race on Sunday. It was my first time walking down the steps as a survivor. Last year I did not do the walk down the steps because I was not up to it emotionally. I was just about done my treatment at that time. So, this year I am a year in after my last treatment.

I walked down holding the hand of an old friend that I have reconnected with because we are both survivors. We are both around the same age & from the same neighborhood.

When asked to identify the highlight of her 30-year career as a dance instructor, without hesitation Jane Lopoten will say, the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure: "To see my girls be a part of something so huge is the most thrilling achievement of my career."