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."