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.

That promise is upheld by a network of over 120 local Affiliate offices. At the heart of each Affiliate is a person or group of people who, like Susan, wanted to make a difference.

Affiliate History

The Komen Wichita Race for the Cure ® was started in 1990 by the Junior League of Wichita. The Wichita Race was the first Komen co-ed Race and the 4th in Komen’s history. The race was held the first weekend in April on the beautiful grounds of Pizza Hut International and the course ran through the Forest Hills housing addition. The 1990 Race was the largest first year road race in Kansas history with over 1,400 participants. The Komen Free Mammography Program was started with the first year’s proceeds, and continues today. The fund has provided over 26,000 free mammograms in the state of Kansas. The Komen Free Mammography Program was the first such program for Komen nationally and served as a model program for many cities as they established their own Komen Race for the Cure Events.

In 1993, the newly established Susan G. Komen For The Cure Mid-Kansas Affiliate assumed control for the race from the Junior League of Wichita. In 1995, the Race was moved to the present location at Towne East Mall, with the course running through the tiny city of Eastborough. The event was moved to the fall to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness month (October) and to hopefully avoid cold spring showers.

Today, we are more than just a Race. We have a Board of Directors, staff, and serve 95 Kansas counties. In the last 21 years, the Affiliate has raised nearly $4M to invest in research, education, outreach, and screening services.