History

Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and commitment to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer.

Though Susan lost her battle with the disease, her legacy lives on through the work of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the organization Nancy started in her honor. Komen for the Cure is the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1 billion since its inception in 1982. Komen’s promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.
Across the country, that promise is upheld by a network of 121 local Affiliate offices. At the heart of each Affiliate is a person or group of people who, like Susan, wanted to make a difference.

The genesis of the Salt Lake City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® was in 1996 when several women whose lives had been touched by breast cancer independently contacted the headquarters of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in Dallas about establishing a Race for the Cure in Utah.  Komen for the Cure put these women in touch with one another and the result was the first Komen Salt Lake City Race for the Cure®.  As participants in a first-time event, runners in the group anticipated the race would attract between 600 and 900 participants.  That first Salt Lake City Race actually attracted over 1,700 participants and has been growing ever since.  In 2010, the fourteenth year of the Salt Lake City Race, the number of particpants increased to over 17,000 making it the largest run/walk in the state of Utah!

As the Race grew, so did the number of sponsors, donations, educational and fund-raising opportunities and, best of all, money for grants to help the underserved population receive vital breast health education, screening and treatment resources.  In 2010, the Affiliate Board of Directors hired our first Executive Director, Debbie Mintowt.  We are looking forward to more great things to come!

In addition to the Race, the SLC Affiliate participates in the Bowl for the Cure®, Row for the Cure, Wacoal Fit for the Cure®, Yoplait Save Lids to Save Lives®, Tubb's Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer® and many other events.
We invite you to join with us as we enter our fifteenth year of running the Race to save lives.