All the buzz last week in the media and in social media
discussions got me thinking about my perspective as a runner on this Race for
the Cure controversy. I don't usually like to discuss politics (despite the
fact that I am married to a sociologist husband who can't seem to avoid it),
but in this case I will make an exception.
First let me say that I support and applaud all that Race
for the Cure has done in terms of breast cancer and breast cancer research. It
funds many, many worthy programs. I have six aunts, five of whom have had
breast cancer, so I definitely believe in and appreciate the cause. I also
appreciate what Komen has done for the running community. Many new runners have
been brought into the community by being attracted to running in order to
participate in one of the 5k races.
However, I am troubled when I think that politics may be
entering into the distribution of the money, and I was even more troubled to
learn about what I believe is the harassment of small local charities who have
used the phrase "for a cure" or "for the cure" in their
fund raising efforts. I mean does a
group having a local dogsled race called "Mush for the Cure" to raise
funds for a local breast cancer charity really need to be sued because Komen
needs to "protect its more than 200 registered trademarks," as their
lawyer stated to the Huffington Post ?
Isn't using the Komen name in conjunction with the words "for a cure"
enough for people to keep the issue straight.
The basic idea of using races to raise money for charities
is definitely a good one. One of the more meaningful races I have ever run was
also a cancer fundraiser in So Cal. called Women Running Wild. The race director's sister had cancer, and the race grew from there to support
an organization in her honor. One year, at check-in they gave us all balloons
upon which we wrote the names of people we knew whose lives had been lost to
cancer or who were battling it. Before the race we released those balloons, and
it was very moving.
I saw another example of the power of this when I first
moved to Michigan and the running community rallied to raise money for a
wheelchair accessible minivan for Delores Hensley, a long time supporter of the
running community in the area. Although I was new and did not know Delores, the
response of the running community was amazing and moving. It made an impression on me immediately about the character of the running community in my new home.
These are two examples that stand out in my memory, but even
showing up at packet pick-up for a race to benefit a high school cross country
team in these days of shrinking budgets and seeing the coach manning the table
and the team members stuffing goodie bags is heartwarming. I also love the updates on my Facebook page from Irondog. I feel good about
supporting these local causes.
I guess the bottom line is, I am wholeheartedly behind the
idea of using races as events to generate funds for worthy causes, but when the charitable
organization itself becomes so big that marketing, managing, and litigating on behalf of the organization begins to become a huge focus, for me
it is time to step out.
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