Race for the Cure Israel

The Israel Breast Cancer Collaborative, a partnership between Susan G. Komen for the Cure and NGOs in Israel, is ready to fight like a girl.

October marked the launch of the Israel Breast Cancer Collaborative, a major partnership between Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Hadassah International and non-governmental organizations in Israel. The goal is to enhance advocacy, awareness, screening and treatment of breast cancer.
The Komen Foundation, based in Dallas, Texas, is the largest breast cancer foundation in the world, having invested nearly $1.5 billion globally toward research, education and treatment. In October, Jerusalem became the 141st city to hold a Komen Race for the Cure.

Komen and Hadassah International brought almost 7,000 people -- including more than 600 Arab and Druze women from Israel -- to a gathering in Jerusalem's downtown Sacher Park prior to the race.

Young and old were there, including both Israelis and tourists, some of whom ran the Race in other cities, such as Chicago and Washington.

US Senator Joe Lieberman and his wife Hadassah were present to bless the effort and Hadassah Lieberman said: "...We are reaching out to everybody, and asking everybody to join and fight this."

Breast cancer is sometimes referred to as a global epidemic, with more than one million women diagnosed every year. In Israel, about 4,000 people are diagnosed each year, and the age of detection is dropping. Breast cancer in Israel remains the most common form of women's cancers, accounting for nearly 30 percent of all new cancer cases in the country.