October 2017

Walk With a Friend!

Taking a walk is a great way to get some exercise and clear your head, but it can be even more fun when you do it with a friend. With that thought in mind, Komen Kentucky is partnering with Jill's Wish for our October 14 Louisville Race for the Cure.

The mission of Jill's Wish - "to minimize the financial hardships patients face while going through breast cancer treatment so they can focus on recovery" - goes hand in hand with Komen's mission. When they approached us to partner on the Race, we felt it was a great fit. They will bring added energy and excitement to the event. We are honored to be showing a united front with this new collaborative effort.

Our Lexington Race on October 21 has some great partners, as well, with WKYT, LBX, Delta Dental of Kentucky, Clark Material Handling, and many others.

We are fortunate that both our Races are still going strong after 22 years. We hope you will join us at one (or both) of these events, as we show Kentuckiana WHAT PINK MAKES POSSIBLE!

These events serve as our main fundraising sources for next year's grants to medical and non-medical partners (to provide LOCAL breast health screenings, treatment support services, and survivor programs, along with global research).  We hope we can count on your support.

As you can see below, October is a busy month for us since it is Breast Cancer Awareness month. While we work year-round "to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer,' October truly is our month to shine. We hope you will find a way to get involved and shine with us!

Sincerest gratitude,

Lynda Weeks
Executive Director

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT 

Jason Aldean's Concert for the Cure Joins Forces with They Don't Know Tour in Louisville

As an avid supporter of the fight against breast cancer, two-time and reigning ACM "Entertainer of the Year" Jason Aldean will celebrate his annual "Concert for the Cure” during his upcoming THEY DON'T KNOW TOUR stop at the KFC YUM Center (Louisville) on October 20. Featuring special guests Chris Young, Kane Brown, and Dee Jay Silver, the night continues Aldean's longstanding partnership with Susan G. Komen® as he will donate a portion from all ticket sales garnered throughout the year to Komen Kentucky.

“As long as I have the chance, I will do my part and raise awareness for this cause,” said Aldean. “My fans keep fighting the battle with this terrible disease along with us, and our dream is that nobody has to fight the disease anymore.” 

In 2004, RIAA’s top digital Country Male Artist of all time launched his efforts to support breast cancer research after losing a dear friend to the disease. Since his first "Concert for the Cure,” Aldean’s efforts have raised more than $3 million to benefit Susan G. Komen Affiliates across the country.

Thank you, Jason Aldean for your tremendous support of Susan G. Komen Kentucky!  For more information about how one lucky breast cancer survivor can win a special VIP meet and greet session with him, read on or click here.

YOU COULD BE THE LUCKY WINNER:

Throughout his tour, Jason Aldean is honoring one breast cancer survivor and a guest at select concerts. Komen is hosting an essay submission contest for individuals to submit a story of survival on behalf of themselves or a loved one. Winners will attend a Jason Aldean concert in their chosen market and have a special VIP backstage meet-and-greet experience with Jason.

Complete the entry form below to submit yourself or a loved one for the contest. Entries must be 999 characters or less, and will be judged on the following:

• Compelling story of how breast cancer has impacted the nominee.
• What the nominee has done to better herself or himself and/or those around her or him since being diagnosed with breast cancer
• Jason Aldean fan and how he has had an impact on the nominee’s life
• Overall quality of submission

For full contest rules, click here. Louisville submissions are due on October 10.

SURVIVOR SPOTLIGHT

Emily Roberts

“It’s a good sign it hurts,” a breast cancer survivor told Emily Roberts last fall when Emily told her she felt a lump in her breast. Emily then did a little research, and let the lump go for two period cycles. But, something just didn’t seem right. She works with children, so she is constantly fatigued, but this was a different fatigue. 

Her breasts were inflamed and tender, and she remembers having to go up two bra sizes, but she brushed it off as hormones. A bout of the flu finally prompted her to go to the doctor. “He felt the lump and said he was pretty sure with my age (32), it was a fibroid adenoma, but sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound. I remember the radiology tech asking me if I had ever heard of ‘ductal carcinoma.’ After that, I knew something was wrong, and my world was about to be turned upside down.”

Emily feels fortunate that she caught it when she did since it was aggressive stage 2B breast cancer, yet her PET scans came back clear. Now, after 16 rounds of chemotherapy and two surgeries later, she is thankful to be in remission and still standing. “I can call myself a ‘survivor.’ And thanks to the wonderful ladies at Komen, I am this year’s survivor co-chair for the Lexington Race and get to help others going through this journey. I get to be there for them and let them know they are not alone.”

Susan G. Komen Kentucky is here in OUR COMMUNITY to help women like Emily with information, resources, and treatment support. Komen is also busy GLOBALLY with critical breast cancer research. For example, did you know that Komen funds more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit?

*If you are willing to share your Survivor story to provide hope and encouragement to others battling the disease, please contact us. We can help write it, if necessary. 

RACE FOR THE CURE

IT'S NOT TOO LATE! REGISTER TODAY!

The Louisville and Lexington Races for the Cure are quickly approaching. Are you registered yet? If not, we encourage you to sign up today and start fundraising so that we can continue to help those in need! You also get this cool Race Shirt!

Louisville, Saturday, October 14 at Louisville Slugger Field
Lexington, Saturday, October 21 at Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

We appreciate you helping us raise funds, so it's important that you know how they are being used. The money raised for the Louisville and Lexington Races for the Cure helps fund breast cancer research, as well as grants to LOCAL medical and non-medical partners to provide screenings, treatment support, and survivor programs. For more information about this year's partners, click here.

WIN A FREE TICKET ABOARD AMERICAN AIRLINES!

New this year - every Race for the Cure participant who makes a SELF-DONATION of $25 or more to either Race (Louisville or Lexington) will be entered into a drawing for 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage Miles (one winner for each Race). The miles may be used for most main cabin roundtrip tickets within the 48 contiguous states or for gift cards to retailers such as Macy's, Target, Sears, and Home Depot. You must be registered as a Race participant. Multiple entries are allowed, so if you make a $50 donation, you’ll be entered twice, $75=three times, $100=four entries. (The cap is four entries per person; but please don’t let that limit your donation.) Deadline for entries is November 30, 2017.

RACE VOLUNTEERS

It takes a lot of people to organize Races of this size, so if you would like to get more involved in either event, we would love for you to become a volunteer: 

Louisville volunteer (need people Pre Race and on Race Day).

Lexington volunteer (need people Pre Race and on Race Day).

(American Airlines is the national Race Volunteer sponsor.)

PACKET PICKUP

LOUISVILLE - Our Pink Ribbon Store will be open in Oxmoor Center (Sears Wing) Friday, October 6 through Thursday, October 12 (please note earlier closing day this year). The store serves as our Louisville Race Headquarters and offers exciting, new merchandise, as well as onsite Race for the Cure registrations and packet pickup. Hours: 11am-8pm daily (except on Sunday, October 8, 1-5pm and Thursday, October 12, 11am-7pm)

Packet pickup and onsite registration will be outside Louisville Slugger Field on Friday, October 13 from noon - 5pm in preparation for Team Tailgate, Friday night. There will be music, food, contests and fun! Join us for that event 5:30-8pm. Parking spots (one per team are $25, which also covers Saturday morning).

LEXINGTON - Packet pickup for the Lexington Race will be OCTOBER 16-20, 11am-4pm, at the Lexington Herald-Leader, 100 Midland Ave (Lexington). Teams are encouraged to come on Wednesday and Thursday, October 18-19.

(Ford Motor Company is our national Race Registration Sponsor.)

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS!

These companies, organizations, and individuals are appreciated for their support in making our Races for the Cure possible!  

Louisville Race Sponsors & Partners:

Lexington Race Sponsors & Partners:

FIT FOR THE CURE

This year marks the 17th anniversary of Wacoal’s Fit for the Cure® program benefiting Susan G. Komen®. For every woman who gets a professional bra fitting at an event, Wacoal will donate $2 to Komen (no purchase necessary). Wacoal will also donate $2 to Komen for every Wacoal bra, shapewear item or b.tempt’d bra purchased at these events with a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 in 2017. For more information or to find an event near you, click here. 

Dates and locations for our Affiliate are also listed below in calendar.

SCHOOL/STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

If you have connections to a school that would like to get involved in raising awareness or funds for Komen Kentucky, please check out our new Pink Out eToolkit. It's a great resource!

We are also looking for school involvement in our Races, such as cheerleading squads and dance teams to cheer on the runners; cross country, track or other teams to hand out water along the route; environmental/ecology clubs to assist with clean up, etc. It's a fun place to get service hours! Click here to sign up as a volunteer for the Louisville Race, or here for the Lexington Race.

UPCOMING EVENTS

NOW-OCTOBER 31, Brighton Collectibles, Oxmoor Center, 7900 Shelbyville Rd (Louisville). Come see the new Power of Pink line of items, including this fun butterfly keychain. Proceeds support SGKK.

NOW-OCTOBER 31, Magic Mug fundraiser. Discover the magic of these special mugs. A portion of your purchase will be donated to Susan G. Komen Kentucky.

NOW-OCTOBER 31, Beauty Beats Breast Cancer’s Butt, Merle Norman Cosmetics, in Oxmoor Center,(Louisville). Special programming on Saturdays, plus all in-stock wigs will be 20% off through the month of October, with a percentage of the wig sales going to SGKK.  (502) 523-2075 or www.merlenormanstudio.com/mn-10062

OCTOBER 4, 11am-9pm, Wacoal Fit for the Cure Event at Dillard's in Kentucky Oaks Mall, 5101 Hinkleville Rd (Paducah)

OCTOBER 5, 6-8pm, Maintenance, Martinis, and Mammograms at Lexus of Louisville, 2400 Blankenbaker Pkwy, (Louisville). The Lexus of Louisville Service Ladies will be teaching basics of car maintenance to women, by women. Vendors will have booths set up and there will be a raffle to raise funds for breast cancer. Call (502) 499-4449 or click for more info.

OCTOBER 6-12, 11am-8pm, Pink Ribbon Store open in Oxmoor Center (Louisville). Louisville Race Headquarters and Packet Pickup. See above for details.

OCTOBER 6, Komen Kentucky Day at City BBQ, 10:30am-10pm, 3292 Richmond Rd (Lexington). Bring in this flyer to support SGKK.

OCTOBER 6, Shop and Support a Cause at Vineyard Vines, 6-9pm, 120 The Summit at Fritz Farn (Lexington). 

OCTOBER 7, 12-8pm, Saying Ciao Ciao to Cancer, Ciao Ristorante (Louisville). Come join the block party and learn more about Jill's Wish.

OCTOBER 9, Breast Cancer Survivors Dinner, organized by Kentucky Cancer Program, call 502-852-6318 for details.

OCTOBER 13, National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day

OCTOBER 13, 11am-9pm, Wacoal Fit for the Cure Event at Dillard's in Fayette Mall, 3625 Nicholasville Rd (Lexington)

OCTOBER 13, 11am-9pm, Wacoal Fit for the Cure Event at Macy's in Oxmoor Center, 7900 Shelbyville Rd (Louisville)

OCTOBER 13, 5-8pm, Team Tailgate for Louisville Race for the Cure, join us in the parking lot across from Louisville Slugger for the party before the big event!  Food, fun, games, tent decorating, and more! Contact Lynn for more details.

OCTOBER 14, 7-11am, Louisville Race for the Cure, Louisville Slugger Field. More information above.

OCTOBER 14, Bourbon Chase. It's not too late to register as a volunteer on behalf of our organization. For more information, click here or contact Ally.

OCTOBER 15, Color of Promise Pink the Pews (breast cancer awareness outreach efforts conducted through places of worship) at various Greater Lexington Area Churches. Contact Marletta McDermott for more details or to register your church.

OCTOBER 16-20, 11am-4pm, Lexington Race for the Cure Packet Pickup, Lexington Herald-Leader, 100 Midland Ave (Lexington) Teams are encouraged to come on Wednesday and Thursday, October 18-19.

OCTOBER 17, 11:30am, Kentucky Golf Classic, Champions Trace Golf Course, 20 Avenue of Champions (Nicholasville). Benefits SGKK. Lunch at 11:30am, Shotgun Start at 1pm. Presented by Tito's Handmade Vodka. $600 per foursome. Sponsorships available. For more information, click here for flyer.

OCTOBER 17, 11am-9pm, Wacoal Fit for the Cure Event at Dillard's in Greenwood Mall, 2625 Scottsville Rd (Bowling Green)

OCTOBER 18, 11am-9pm, Wacoal Fit for the Cure Event at Dillard's in Jefferson Mall, 4801 Outer Loop (Louisville)

OCTOBER 19, 11am-9pm, Wacoal Fit for the Cure Event at Dillard's in Green Tree Mall, 757 Lewis & Clark Pkwy, (Clarksville, IN)

OCTOBER 19-20, GIE+ Expo, 9am-5pm (both days) at the Kentucky Expo Center (Louisville). There will be a raffle benefitting SGKK to win a pink Fisher Snow Plow or a pink SnowEx Spreader at the Fisher/SnowEx booth. Raffle tickets are $10 each. If you buy two or more, you get a free knit cap. Also, at the BlueBird Turf Products booth, there will be another raffle, also benefitting SGKK, for a Pink Power Rake. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. 

OCTOBER 20, 11am-9pm, Wacoal Fit for the Cure Event at Dillard's in Mall St. Matthews, 5000 Shelbyville Rd (Louisville)

OCTOBER 20, 7pm, Eastern High School Pink Out Football Game against Seneca High School, 12400 Old Shelbyville Rd (Louisville)

OCTOBER 20, 7:30pm, Jason Aldean Concert, KFC Yum! Center, 1 Arena Plaza (Louisville) See below for more information.

OCTOBER 21, 6:30-11am, Lexington Race for the Cure at Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza. See above for more information. 

OCTOBER 21, 11am-9pm, Wacoal Fit for the Cure Event at Belk in Greenwood Mall, 2625 Scottsville Rd (Bowling Green)

OCTOBER 21, 9am, Atria of Elizabethtown presents Tails & TaTas, a 5K walk to support SGKK. For more information, click here.

OCTOBER 21, 8am, Sista Strut, 3K Walk, Shawnee Park (Louisville), a portion of the proceeds benefit SGKK.

OCTOBER 24, 1am-8pm, Blaze Pizza Fundraiser, Summit at Fritz Farm, 4049 Finn Way, (Lexington). Blaze Pizza will donate 20% of the sales if you bring in this flyer. 

OCTOBER 26, 11am-9pm, Wacoal Fit for the Cure at Macy's in Fayette Mall, 3301 Nicholasville Rd (Lexington)

OCTOBER 26, 8am-4pm, Lazos que Unen breast cancer screening day at 1099 Duval St, (Lexington) in partnership with KentuckyOne Health "Yes Mamm!", and Kentucky Cancer Link. Call 859-309-1700 for an appointment.

OCTOBER 28-29, Worship in Pink, St. Stephen Church, 1018 S 15th St (Louisville). A breast cancer awareness outreach effort conducted through places of worship. Sponsored by Delta Dental of Kentucky. For more information, visit KomenKentucky.org or call (502) 495-7824.

BIG WIG CHALLENGE CONTINUES

Help fight breast cancer and take the BIG WIG Challenge! 

1. Put on something pink.

2. Post a video or picture online challenging 8 of your friends, family or co-workers to participate in the Komen Big Wig Challenge (since 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime). 

3. Direct everyone to BigWigKy.org to donate (and be sure to tag Susan G. Komen Kentucky on your post so we can share your challenge with others).

4. Make it your own and HAVE FUN!