In Febuary 2006, I announced in a journal that I would be racing in the 2006 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure here in Portland, Oregon on September 17. I also announced that there are slips of pink paper that I would wear during the run, on each slip being a list of names of people who had died from cancer, are fighting cancer, or have survived the battle. I'd like to re-extend that offer for September 2007 to the whole dA community. Let me first provide a bit of background info on the subject matter.

"Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the US and is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women age forty to fifty-nine. It is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer deaths in women.

Breast cancer accounts for one of every three cancer diagnosis in women. About 211,240 cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women this year and over 40,000 this year will die.

There are over two million breast cancer survivors alive today in the US and the number of deaths due to breast cancer seems to be declining. A combination of earlier detection and more effective treatments is thought to be responsible for declining death rates.

About 1,690 cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men this year, and about 460 men will for from breast cancer.

[And many cases are not reported]."

There is, of course, hope. The Susan B Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation is one of the biggest reasons the rate of death in women is declining. Annually, this foundation hosts a monumental race in my area (and I'm sure yours, too, just not at the same time) during September, when they charge people to run all around the city with people honking horns and everything. It really is a beautiful sight. Every year since 7th grade, I have raced or intended to race, this year being no exception; however, this year should be different for me.

It is my last year running this race before I go off to college, so I'd like to go out with a bang. Last year, I collected the names of 56 survivors and victims of cancer, and would like to triple that amount this year. My New Years Resolution is to run for 150 people or more come September 2007.

Now, how it works is thusly: Please note me name(s) of survivors or victims of cancer (does not have to be afflicted be breast cancer) and I will run for them in the race. If you simply comment on this article, you run the risk of me not seeing the name(s), as I might not be able to read all of them. If you gave me a name last year, I still have them and you don't need to give them to me again

I'd like to take it one step further, too. I'm calling all Portland(OR)-Metro-Area deviants to come to this event and run/walk with me in one of the races, much like a devMEET. I'd also like you to go to the Susan B Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation Site and search for the run in your area and set up a devMEET in the major city around your area.

This isn't going to get done by someone else.

As for deviants overseas, the Race is also in Germany, Italy and Puerto Rico. I'm not sure if it happens elsewhere - you'd have to check for yourself if there is a Race in your area.

If you this article, please add a link in your signature, journal, shoutboard, whatever you can to get this noticed. Help me reach my goal of 150 names