Oct. 1, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: BETH HONEYCUTT

(662) 328-0707

Visit www.nmhs.net for an electronic version of this article.

COLUMBUS REGISTRATION DRIVE PLANNED FOR

KOMEN NORTH MISSISSIPPI RACE FOR THE CURE®

Columbus, Miss. – Area men and women, mark your calendars for Oct. 15 for the Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure® registration drive.

Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure® organizers will be distributing entry forms for the upcoming coed 5K (3.1 mile) run/walk and one-mile Fun Run from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the YMCA, 602 Second Ave. North. Beth Honeycutt of Columbus, who is a member of the Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure® Board of Directors, is coordinating the registration drive.

The North Mississippi Race, scheduled for Oct. 23 in Tupelo, is part of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s 2004 National Race for the Cure Series®, the largest series of 5K run/walks in the United States.

The first Komen Race for the Cure® was held in Dallas, Texas, in 1983 after the Komen Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker in honor of her sister Susan G. Komen, who died of breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a network of volunteers working through local Affiliates and Komen Race for the Cure® events to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. The Foundation runs one of the most innovative, responsive grant programs in breast cancer today. In addition to funding research, the Foundation and its Affiliates provide funding for community-based breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment projects for the medically under-served.

Seventy-five percent of the net proceeds from the North Mississippi Race will be used to fund mammograms, breast cancer treatment and education for medically under-served women in 15 counties in north Mississippi. Twenty-five percent of the net proceeds fund the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Award and Research Grant Program. These monies are used for research to find a cure for breast cancer.

The Good Samaritan Free Clinic in Columbus is a past grant recipient from the Komen North Mississippi Affiliate.

Registration forms will be available at the Columbus YMCA throughout October. For added convenience, online registration is available at www.msraceforthecure.org.

The registration fee is $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event. The first 3,000 registered participants will receive a goody bag and a long-sleeve 100 percent cotton Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure® T-shirt. The Race will begin and end in the mall parking lot near the entrance to JCPenney in Tupelo. North Mississippi Medical Center, WTVA, WKDH, WLOV and Clear Channel Radio are local presenting sponsors for the 2004 Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure®.

For more information on Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure®, call 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375).

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