Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Texarkana has a storied history in Texarkana. In the past 20 years the event has brought in $6.9 million. Of that amount, $5.5 million has stayed in the community to provide breast health services and $1.4 million has been used to support breast cancer research.
Funds from the race go to local organizations to provide diagnostic and treatment services. In 2019 the CHRISTUS St. Michael Foundation received $75,000; Genesis PrimeCare received $2,500; Little River Memorial Hospital received $2,500 and the Wadley Foundation received $40,000.
The money does impact local lives. Thousands of women have been helped with the funds raised since the first race.
"For many of the women, these funds have given them a peace of mind. For some they were able to use them for diagnostics, so hopefully this has helped in their early detection and helping to guide them into the continuum of care to receive the very best care," said Amber Lawrence, Southwest region director for Susan G. Komen Arkansas.
At St. Michael, Komen funds have helped detect cancer in patients in the past year.
"This year so far since April we've helped 132 women in the community. That's uninsured and underinsured patients. We've provided navigation which helps these women access care and decreases the barrier to care," said Tamara Henderson, registered nurse and diagnostic breast navigator at St. Michael. "Two women have been assisted that were diagnosed with breast cancer and both have been assisted with treatment. Right now we're waiting for our second installment of funds and we already have 50 patients waiting. There is a great need in our community for these funds."
Race for the Cure organizers expect about 5,000 participants to take over Downtown Texarkana during the local event which kicks off at 9 a.m. Oct. 19 at the Front Street Plaza.