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SUSAN G. KOMEN RACE FOR CURE
Race for the Cure and Breast Cancer Research
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
April 21, 2012
Kanwal Prakash Singh
As I wandered up and down Military Mark near downtown Indianapolis, the site of the 2012 Susan G. Komen Race for Cure (breast cancer research rally) to raise awareness and funds about this dreaded disease that devastates so many lives and families each year, my mind and senses were amazed at the sight of over 27,000 multi-generational and multi-cultural participants from across the State of Indiana. All this was for a worthy cause. People were mingling, comforting, supporting their family members and friends affected by breast cancer, and enjoying the festivities before the Race. At one point, the popular songs, “Celebration” and “We are Family” rang out, and it all seemed like a family reunion, a colorful display of pageantry with myriad accents of pink (the color of the breast cancer awareness movement), some bordering on a joyful riot of exuberant imagination. There were open displays of emotions, excitement, and camaraderie. People were expressing solidarity with survivors and those undergoing treatment and reaffirming a resounding commitment to find a cure for a dreaded disease that claims hundreds of thousands of lives in the U.S. each year. The gathering was an overwhelming sight.
As I witnessed this incredible scene, I wondered, when would organizations addressing this issue in countries like India be able to mount such a vigorous and sustained effort to help those afflicted by this disease, provide affordable treatment, discover the cure, and adopt preventive measures against cancer? I hoped that the efforts of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, that are saving and extending the lives of countless patients, will reaffirm, for breast cancer patients everywhere, that there is hope after cancer; there is life after cancer; early detection and treatment are the key and the lifesaver. Here was another area of cooperation for nations to explore.
We need to mount this Race for Cure campaign globally for the sake of families and especially for young children. We all need healthy mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, aunts, grandmothers, friends, and neighbors. Women keep life moving forward at home and in a society. We can only imagine the devastation that the losses of female anchors in families leave behind. This disease has caused indescribable suffering throughout history, and therefore, finding a cure for cancer must be a universal priority and an urgent commitment. With the advancement of medical science and research, this goal is definitely possible within our lifetime.
This year marked the 21st Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and breast cancer research in Indianapolis; the Race and sponsorships raised over $1.7 million. This Race was one of the many such events across the United States, and Susan G. Komen national organization has raised over $1.9 billion over the last two decades for breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research. As in previous years, there was music, dancing, celebrities, cancer-related displays, and special service tents for breast cancer survivors. There was an overwhelming spirit of celebration, a sense of deep gratitude for the loved ones who had survived following treatment since their diagnosis. When the walkers and the runners took to the street for the 1-mile family Walk and the 5-kilometer Walk/Run, there was a sea of pink as far as the eye could see. This was a beautiful post card of optimism with so many souls working together. The cure for breast cancer and other forms of cancer cannot be far away.
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