The UTMB Cancer Center is spearheading the UTMB Cruisin' for a Cure team for the 20th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday, Oct. 2 in downtown Houston. 

The annual event has raised more than $1 billion to support breast cancer research and treatment programs around the country. UTMB cancer programs have received more than $3.3 million in Komen funding; providing screening for 3,870 women and diagnostic services for over 2,106 women in the last four years. Thanks to the Komen Houston affiliate, UTMB also has detected new cancers and provided treatment for 48 women.

Last year the UTMB Cruisin' for a Cure team ranked #12 out of more than 1,200 teams that participated in the run, raising nearly $24,000 for the cause. Efforts to build a stronger UTMB team for the 2010 race are underway. Once again, UTMB is united as one team and all UTMB employees, family members, volunteers, and community members are encouraged to join. Team members can sign up at Komen Houston Race for the Cure. The fee to walk or run in the race is $30 per person or $25 for breast cancer survivors.

As a result of ranking in the top 100 teams last year, UTMB has been designated an official team shirt which will be provided to all team members in addition to their Komen t-shirt supplied by the event. 

Kathy Elger, Maryellen LeDuc and Ann Masel, serving as the 2010 UTMB Cruisin’ for a Cure Team honorary chairs, are looking to assemble a team of at least 150 members and raise a minimum of $25,000 in donations. If you cannot take part in the actual event, you can still contribute to the UTMB Cruisin' team through Komen Houston Race for the Cure.  For more information, please contact Team Captain Kathy Bass, UTMB Cancer Center, at   (409) 747-1935 or kbass@utmb.edu.

The Komen Race for the Cure is one of many health-related walks/runs/races UTMB employees can participate in this fall. Stay tuned for more details on the upcoming Galveston Historical Foundation Rebirth Walk/Run on Sept. 11;  the Shrimp Scamper benefitting UTMB on Sept. 25; the Alzheimer's Memory Walk on Oct. 9; the American Heart Association Bay Area Heart Walk on Oct. 16 and D'Feet Breast Cancer Run/Walk on Oct. 30.