Mesa’s Women’s Union Club sponsored a team to participate in the annual Komen Race for the Cure Walk. The 5k run/walk took place at Balboa Park on November 5, 2006.

October was the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month and all over the nation, people celebrated this month in similar fund-raising walks in honor of the millions of the courageous women who have lost their lives to the disease.

Breast cancer is currently the second leading cause of death in the United States, next to lung cancer, and according to the U.S. Cancer Statistics Report; more than 212,970 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,978 women died of the disease in 2005. This disease has also risen in incidence in this country; from one in 20 in 1960 to on in eight today.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation organized this particular walk and they were among many other sponsors who coordinated events that were part of the nationwide push to educate and prevent breast cancer. The Komen Foundation Mission Statement is to “[e]radicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.”

The Women’s Union was one of the many student clubs across the nation who participated in breast cancer awareness events this month.

Holly Boyd, the president of the club, along with other members, had the tough job of signing up Mesa students to participate in the walk. Due to a $28 registration fee to participate, many people who were initially interested were dissuaded by this factor.

Shannon Downey, a Mesa student, was one of the many who didn’t sign up due to the financial aspect.

“I’m a single mom who didn’t have an extra $28 laying around,” said Downey. “It was tough because it was something I would have loved to do. One thing that would have helped was if there were more sponsors, or if those people who are interested, like me, were given ample time to search for other venues to find ways to participate.”

For those who took part, the walk was worth the money. Kim Perkins, the Vice President of the Women’s Union Club had a very special reason for participating.

“Personally, it meant a lot to me because I lost my mother to breast cancer five years ago to the exact date of the walk,” said Perkins. “I was out there trying to show my support to those who went through what I did and also in hopes that a cure will be found.”

Approximately 15 people from Mesa, including the club members, joined in walking to find a cure for breast cancer.