About the Arizona Breast Cancer Walk

The Arizona Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk started in 2003. Nationwide, since its inception in 2003, the walk has been held in 14 major cities and raised over $220 million. Nancy Brinker started the Susan G. Komen Foundation as a promise to her sister who helped others while she herself was dying of breast cancer. Nancy started the foundation in 1982. Since its start the Susan G. Komen Foundation has raised approximately $1 billion toward education and a cure for breast cancer.

According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, "nearly 200,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2008." Approximately 2,030 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. Across all ages, breast cancer is the most common disease that challenges women. Age is more of a contributing factor to a woman getting breast cancer than hereditary.

Several "get started" meetings are held months before the 3-day walk. Get started meetings allow former and new walkers to learn more about the event, ask questions and get to know other walkers. You can also register for the actual walk at the meeting and receive a registration kit that includes a handbook, legacy pin and milestone badge. Most Arizona meetings are held late in the morning on a Saturday. Expos are also held prior to the 3-day walk. At expos, participants get to meet volunteers, crew members and coaches. Expos are generally held 2 to 3 months before the actual walk. In 2008, more than 400 people came out for the expos.

The actual walk takes place in mid-November in the Phoenix Valley. Over the course of 3 days the walk covers 60 miles through Arizona's lush surroundings. Registration for the walk is open already. The exact route of the walk is distributed the day of the event. Walkers can log on to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk website and register online or they may visit the website and request a hard copy of the registration form to complete and mail in (see Resources below). If you participated in a former walk, you can simply use your former login and password to access your records at the website. In addition, participants can register for the walk as an individual or as a team.

The 2008 Arizona Breast Cancer 3-day Walk raised $5.2 million. The walk benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure and National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. The organizations help to educate women and men about breast cancer and the importance of self-exams and mammograms. The organizations also provide care to patients and spearhead scientific research efforts to find a cure for the disease.