2012 Komen Detroit Race for the Cure® awards more than $1.55 million
to local breast cancer programs

  2012 Komen Detroit Race for the Cure® Celebrates Accomplishments

2012 Top Fundraisers
Photo Album

DETROIT - Representatives from the Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure® announced that they have awarded $1,551,081 to local breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs as a result of $2.3 million raised in the 2012 Komen Detroit Race for the Cure®, locally presented by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, held May 26 at Comerica Park.

The announcement was made Sept. 19 at the Komen Detroit Friends and Team Captains Celebration honoring fundraising accomplishments. Approximately 350 supporters were in attendance. In addition to the local grants to programs, $317,300 was contributed to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Program, benefitting both global and local scientists committed to ending breast cancer.

Each year, the Komen Detroit Race for the Cure awards 75 percent of the current year's net proceeds to organizations serving Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Funds support breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs for the medically underserved. The remaining 25 percent funds global breast cancer research and project grants awarded through Komen for the Cure. Since 1992, the Komen Detroit Race for the Cure has raised and invested more than $23 million to help end breast cancer.

"We know this was a challenging year," said Katrina Studvent, co-chair, Komen Detroit Race for the Cure. "In the past 30 years, Komen's mission has never wavered and our commitment to women, as well as men, who need our help is more focused than ever. Thanks to our community's support, breast cancer services will be available for the most vulnerable in our community."  

This year's Race drew a crowd of 30,000 participants, including 500 Race teams whose fundraising efforts helped make local grants possible.

"Each year, we experience the outpouring of support from the metro Detroit community - families, neighbors, coworkers, congregations, students and individuals come together to honor, remember and celebrate those of us who have been touched by breast cancer," said Maureen Keenan Meldrum, chair, Komen Detroit Race for the Cure.

"Whatever obstacles arise, we will remain steadfast in our mission to end breast cancer forever, and that starts right here at home. Thanks to the generosity of 100 sponsors and thousands of participants, those who are uninsured or underinsured will have access to life-saving breast cancer screenings, treatment and education programs."

After reviewing several grant applications, a panel of community experts invested Race proceeds to six programs. For more information, click here.

In addition to the announcement of the 2012 Komen Detroit grants, the Sept. 19 celebration was also an opportunity to recognize fundraising efforts through the Friends for the Cure® program. This program acknowledges captains of Race teams of 40 or more members, or teams that raise more than $5,000; and individuals who raise more than $1,000.

Michael Meldrum, volunteer chair of Friends for the Cure® said, "Since this program started 16 years ago, Friends has raised $9.3 million, and now accounts for 45 percent of the annual Race revenue. The commitment of all those who help make this possible is truly inspiring."

There are 58 individuals who were part of the Platinum Club, those who raised $2,500 or more. Twenty individuals were among the Promise Club, those who raised $5,000 or more. Of the top ten individual fundraisers, the latter seven of this impressive group together raised $64,597.

The top three fundraisers for 2012 are:

• 1st  place winner, Dorene Williams of West Bloomfield raised $17,457. This is the fourth consecutive year that Williams has achieved first place. In that time, her total fundraising has reached $98,500.
• 2nd  place winner, Erica Brennan of Berkley raised $17,201.
• 3rd  place winner, Barb Roller of Rochester Hills raised $13,675.

There were five Race teams recognized with the New Balance Highest Percentage Awards - those teams with the highest percentage of team members raising $100 or more each.

Five more teams were recognized with the New Balance Team Award for the Most Dollars Raised. Ford Motor Company not only raised $73,656 this year but also had the largest team at 1,529 members. In the past 21 years of the Komen Detroit Race, Ford has brought thousands together to raise more than $470,000 locally. As a national partner, Ford has dedicated more than $115 million to the breast cancer fight through its support of Komen.

Special Komen Promise of One Awards were given to Joe Blazo of Commerce Township and Matt Moceri of Detroit for years of selfless volunteering and their outstanding commitment to the Komen Detroit Race.  

A panel of breast cancer experts from the Karmanos Cancer Institute also gave an update on progress being made in breast cancer research and treatment and took questions from the audience.