Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure Plans Annual Run/Walk in Tupelo

The 17th annual Susan G. Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Fairpark in downtown Tupelo and will include a 5K (3.1 mile) run and a one-mile Fun Run/Walk. This year’s Race will also include an optional obstacle course as part of the one-mile Fun Run.
“We invite families, groups of friends, and teams from area churches and businesses to join together in a great cause,” said Melonie Kight, Race chair. “So many lives are affected by cancer, and this event offers a fun way for people to raise money for breast cancer education, screening, treatment and research.”
The North Mississippi Race for the Cure benefits the North Mississippi Affiliate of Susan G. Komen.
The Susan G. Komen promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality of care for all and energizing science to find the cure. Born in a promise between two sisters, Nancy Brinker to her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36, Komen is the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting to end breast cancer forever.
“Funds raised during the Komen Race for the Cure Series support the organization’s promise to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Seventy-five percent of the net income from this Race stays in our community and is used to fund breast health education and breast cancer screening projects in 16 counties in northeast Mississippi,” Kight said. “Twenty-five percent of the net income supports Komen’s Research and Grants Program to find the cures.”
Advance registration is $25 for adults and $15 for children younger than 14 for the one-mile Fun Run and 5K not scored, and “Sleep in for the Cure” runners who are unable to participate on Race day. Advance registration is $30 for adults and $20 for children younger than 14 for the 5K electronically scored with chip devices. Registration is available online only through Oct. 17.
Beginning Oct. 22, participants must register at the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau at 399 E. Main St. from noon-7 p.m. The registration fee will go up to $30 for adults and $25 for children 14 and younger, with an additional $5 for chip timing. Race day registration will be $35 for the Fun Run or the 5K. Race day registrants are not eligible for chip timing. Participants may register the day of the Race from 6:30-7:30 a.m. at the registration tent in Fairpark.
While supplies last, registered participants will receive a high-quality, 100 percent cotton, short-sleeve Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure T-shirt.
All breast cancer survivors who wish to be recognized are asked to sign in Race day at the Survivor Tent, sponsored by Zeta Tau Alpha. A survivor group photo will be taken at 7 a.m. at the steps of City Hall, and a complimentary photo will be available at the Survivor Tent following the awards ceremony. In addition, the Survivor Tent will include a breakfast and more activities for survivors.
In the 5K race the first three overall finishers and top three winners in all Race divisions for men and women by age groups will receive an award. The overall 5K male and female winners will also receive a round-trip ticket for travel on American Airlines or American Eagle to anywhere in the 48 contiguous states compliments of American Airlines (limit one per household). In addition, the top 100 individual fundraisers will receive Belk gift cards. The top individual fundraiser will also receive a round-trip airline ticket compliments of American Airlines. More information about awards and fundraising deadlines can be found at their website.
For more information about Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure, call (662) 377-4903 or 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375). Anyone interested in being a Race day volunteer is encouraged to call (662) 377-4903.