Mother's Battle With Breast Cancer Lifts Racer to Action 'For The Cure'
by Janie Vogel
racing pr@oh.rr.com
Nineteen-year-old Indy Pro Series driver Sean Guthrie has formed a formal partnership with the Susan G. Komen For The Cure organization that will see him be an official Komen ambassador, and also participate on the celebrity board for the Passionately Pink For The Cure (TM) (PPFTC) outreach. PPFTC is a national fundraising and education program established to drive breast cancer advocacy and honor/celebrate those affected by breast cancer.
“I’m so honored to be a part of such an important organization like Susan G. Komen For the Cure and their Passionately Pink For The Cure program,” Guthrie stated. “My mother, Missy, is a two-time breast cancer survivor, so this is a cause that hits literally close to home for me. Although my life is filled with racing cars, there’s so much more to life than going fast and winning races. The health of my family, and everyone I know and care about, is supremely important to me. If I can play a small part in helping others to possibly prevent breast cancer, and be a part of an organization that raises funds for breast cancer advocacy, then I’m happy to spend any amount of time to do my part. This is just the beginning of my relationship with the Komen organization. I am really excited about the future and for all of the programs I might be able to get involved with - I’m hoping to help them in any way possible.”
Sean Guthrie Races for the Cure on Sunday, June 10th With Personal Interest
To kick off this affiliation between Guthrie and the Susan G. Komen For The Cure organization, he will participate in Albuquerque’s Komen Race For The Cure this Sunday, June 10th, along with his mother, Missy. The Race For The Cure is the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world, with well over 1 million participants since 2005. The Komen Race for the Cure Series raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease.
“I can’t wait to attend this year’s Albuquerque Race For The Cure this Sunday with my mom,” Guthrie said enthusiastically. “It will serve as a good way to kick off my affiliation with the Komen organization, but more importantly, it’s a way to honor my mother and show support for her health. I’m sure it will be an amazing experience for both of us.”
On June 4th, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the leader in the global breast cancer movement, opened registration for Passionately Pink for the Cure, a national program that makes it easy for anyone and everyone to play a part in ending breast cancer. The premise is simple: change your clothes to change the world.
In its inaugural year in 2006, Komen’s PPFTC program inspired grassroots activism across the country, encouraging more than 7,000 businesses, places of worship, schools, social organizations and individuals to join the global breast cancer movement. Beginning October 1, as it kicks off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Komen is challenging organizations large and small to “Pick Your Pink. Play Your Part. End Breast Cancer.” People pick a day in October, pay $5 and wear pink, throw a pink party, etc. Last year the program raised more than $3 million.
"It's that simple," said René Syler, Komen for the Cure ambassador and Passionately Pink's chief passionista. "By selecting a day in October to wear pink and donate $5 or more, individuals and companies can help Komen discover and deliver the cures for breast cancer. As a daughter, wife and mother personally affected by this devastating disease, I understand the urgency to save the one-in-eight women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Wear your pink and advocate for change."
Chief Passionista Syler joins Guthrie, Bill Hall, Milwaukee Brewers' outfielder and Rachel Smith, Miss USA, as part of Komen's Passionately Pink for the Cure celebrity board. Supporting Komen's promise to end breast cancer forever, Guthrie, Syler, Hall and Smith will not only "go Passionately Pink," but also will drive awareness of the disease that without a cure could kill 10 million women in the next 25 years. The campaign is also supported by UPS, the official shipping sponsor of the program.
Nationally Renowned Komen Organization Works to Stop Breast Cancer Cold
Nearly one million individuals participated in Passionately Pink for the Cure last year. All of the net proceeds from the program go directly to the breast cancer movement, with 75 percent supporting breast cancer research programs and 25 percent supporting community-based education, screening and treatment programs funded by Komen Affiliates across the country.
Individuals or group organizers can register at www.passionatelypink.org. Registering parties simply select the day or days in October their group plans to participate and donate $5 or more for each participant. In addition to picking their pink, groups are encouraged to be creative and to make Passionately Pink for the Cure a fun and educational day for all. Groups could incorporate activities, contests, guest speakers and ways to honor and remember breast cancer survivors.
After registering, participants will receive activation kits with details about the program, specially designed pins and creative ways to go Passionately Pink. As the official shipping sponsor for Passionately Pink for the Cure, UPS has donated $50,000 and underwritten all shipping costs.
For 25 years, Susan G. Komen for the Cure's grassroots activism and research grants have played a critical role in every major advance in the fight against breast cancer. With the help of more than 100,000 breast cancer activists, Komen is fighting every minute of every day to save every life. To fulfill its promise to end breast cancer forever, the organization has invested nearly $1 billion in breast cancer research and community outreach programs to date and aims to invest another $1 billion over the next decade.
'Passionately Pink' Become Watchwords for Cancer Awareness and Action
"In 2007, nearly 200,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in our country. With the funds raised from Passionately Pink for the Cure last year, we are able to fund research and education programs that will move us closer to a world without breast cancer. I challenge you to go Passionately Pink and play your part," said breast cancer survivor Hala Moddelmog, Susan G. Komen for the Cure president and CEO.
Passionately Pink for the Cure is a fun, simple way for anyone and everyone to get involved in the breast cancer movement with a contribution of $5 or more. To register visit www.passionatelypink.org and go Passionately Pink for the Cure with Sean Guthrie, René Syler, Bill Hall and Rachel Smith.
For more information about Sean Guthrie, please log onto his website at www.SeanGuthrie.com (See link left sidebar of this page).
Congratulations Sean on your selection to represent the Komen Organization.
This is truly a worthy cause, and a worthy group of people you've joined toward making breast cancer a manageable disease.
You should be proud of this accomplishment and of your personal commitment to this work.
Posted by: Allan Brewer | June 06, 2007 at 10:48 AM