What to expect on the day of Susan G. Komen Charlotte’s Race for the Cure [Partner]
On your mark. Get set. Race for the Cure!
Get your running shoes — or if you are Jerry Seinfeld and say you choose not to run, your walking shoes — for Susan G. Komen Charlotte’s 20th annual Race for the Cure this Saturday, October 1 in Marshall Park.
This is the largest fundraiser for the nonprofit to fund breast cancer outreach and research programs throughout the year. Once you get to the run location, you can expect a day of fun, laughter, tears and happily sore feet. The 5K has become a major Charlotte event for competitive racers and the thousands of walk teams in uptown each October, raising funds for local programs and national research.
Here’s a preview of what you can expect on the day of:
Expo Village: The event’s sponsors will have tents and food giveaways here. Oh, I I know where I’ll be as I “lose” my place in the running marathon line, falling farther behind. Go on without me, I have Swedish meatballs!
Teams Village: Teams can meet here to get their photos taken from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and there will be special incentives for teams that raise $1,000 or more.
Survivor Village: Includes a survivor breakfast from 6:15-7:30 a.m. for the survivor and two guests, which I’m hoping means there’s a gondola of assorted fruits and a pancake or two with whipped cream. They definitely deserve it. Survivors can also take a group photo at 10:00 a.m. and enjoy gifts, sweet flags to wave around and their own personal entertainment. Award winning vocalist and actor Tony Grant will be performing for the survivors at the parade.
Grantee Village: Komen Charlotte’s Grantees (organizations that receive funding to provide free breast health services) will be set-up in Grantee Village to provide educational information and resources. Grantee Village will also house a table about Komen Advocacy and the I am Komen initiative.
You can even take this cause lying down — no, really. While the race starts early (the full schedule is here), you might still need your 8 hours a night, so register for Sleep for the Cure and still get an event t-shirt. The only catch is you getting some zzzs.
The best way to get involved, though, is to be among survivors and supporters. Being physically among a group dedicated to saving lives is deeply empowering.
Plus, you’ll want to be there for Novant Health’s mobile mammography unit for a one-stop mammogram experience.
For more information, visit the Susan G. Komen Charlotte website.
This story was originally published September 26, 2016 at 9:00 PM.