Lake Union Row for the Cure® kicks off October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Sept. 18

What’s that huge pink ribbon at south Lake Union?  Public can watch over 200 rowers and paddlers from Center for Wooden Boats at South Lake Union Park

Help fight breast cancer with an e-ticket purchase to the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show

SEATTLE, Aug. 29, 2005 – A huge two-story pink ribbon on the old Naval Reserve building at South Lake Union Park will greet over 200 rowers and paddlers on Sunday, Sept. 18 at Seattle’s annual Row for the Cure® regatta benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. 

One of four Row for the Cure® events in Seattle, Portland, Ore., Philadelphia and Dayton, Ohio, the 3,500 meter rowing, canoe/kayak and dragon boat regatta helps kick off October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Over $89,000 has been raised locally and more than $295,000 has been raised nationally through Row for the Cure® in the fight to eradicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease. The Row is being held in conjunction with the annual Lake Union Boats Afloat Show and is one of 52 third-party events that take place each year raising over $368,000 for the Puget Sound Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Seattle’s Row for the Cure® will include 44 members of the Team Survivor and Team Sake dragon boat clubs along with a number of U.S. National Team rowers who are pairing-up with breast cancer survivors for the race.  Racing begins at 7:00 am and runs through 8:30 am, with crews, canoes and dragon boats starting near Seattle Pacific University in the Lake Washington Ship Canal, racing under the Fremont Bridge and then south to the finish line near The Center for Wooden Boats at South Lake Union Park.

“We’re excited about the interest of so many boating groups in this year’s Row,” said Steff Fowler, regatta director of Seattle’s Row for the Cure®, whose partnership with the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show will help create awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection among the 12,000 boating enthusiasts that are expected to visit the show.  Boats Afloat Show attendees can help fight breast cancer by purchasing an e-ticket at www.boatsafloatshow.com or by making a contribution at the show during the week of Sept. 14 – 18th. 

“Row for the Cure® is an example of the creativity in our community to fight breast cancer,” said Lynn D. Hagerman, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Affiliate of the Susan G.. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  “The Row shows how women, empowered by challenging themselves, can have a positive effect in the fight against breast cancer and helping others.”

Rowers, and canoe/kayak paddlers can register for the regatta by visiting www.pocockrowing.org.  Entry proceeds benefit the Susan G.. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  The public can view the regatta at no cost from 7:00 am to 8:30 am, Sunday, Sept. 18 from regatta finish line near The Center for Wooden Boats at South Lake Union Park.  

About Row for the Cure®
Row for the Cure®, benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, is in its 12th year and annually attracts over 750 participants and 200 volunteers from the rowing, canoe/kayak and dragon boat communities in the United States.  Since Portland, Ore. hosted the first Row for the Cure® in 1994, the regatta has grown to a four-city event in Portland, Seattle, Philadelphia and Dayton, Ohio raising over $295,000 in the fight to eradicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease.  Seattle Row for the Cure® is made possible through the generous support of ZymoGenetics, Seattle Breast Center at Northwest Hospital, H.D. Fowler Company, Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland, Snyder, Hartung, Kane and Strauss, Lane Powell, Northwest Yacht Brokers Association, Lake Union Boats Afloat Show, The Center for Wooden Boats, Northwest Seaport, RegattaCentral and the George Pocock Rowing Foundation.

About the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a network of more than 75,000 volunteers working through local Affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure® to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. A global leader in the fight against breast cancer, the Foundation fulfills its mission through support of innovative breast cancer research grants, meritorious awards and educational, scientific and community outreach programs around the world. Together with its Affiliate Network, corporate partners and generous donors, the Komen Foundation has raised nearly $600 million for the fight against breast cancer.

Who Rowers, canoe/kayak enthusiasts, dragon boat paddlers, public spectators and Sunday attendees of the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show.

What 12th annual Row for the Cure®, 6th in Seattle.  Seattle’s Row for the Cure® is a 3,500 meter rowing, canoe/kayak and dragon boat regatta benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. 

Row for the Cure® is a “third-party” event, meaning it is organized completely through the volunteer help of an organization other than the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  Fifty two third party events contributed $368,000 in 2004-05 to the Susan G. Komen - Puget Sound Affiliate

Where Spectators can view racing at the Center for Wooden Boats at South Lake Union Park in Seattle.  Racing begins in the Lake Washington Ship Canal near Seattle Pacific University and runs east under the Fremont Bridge and then south along the west shore of Lake Union.

When 7:00am to 8:30 am, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2005

Why To help eradicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease.  Proceeds from each Row for the Cure® benefit the local affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, where 75 percent of the money raised stays in the community for education and treatment of breast cancer; the remaining 25 percent of monies raised support national breast cancer research projects.

Registration Rowers and paddlers can register for the regatta by visiting www.pocockrowing.org

Contributions  Contributions can be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation by purchasing an e-ticket to the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show at www.boatsafloatshow.com or attending show, Sept. 14 – 18 in Seattle.

What’s New A two-story pink ribbon celebrating breast cancer survivorship and honoring those who have lost their battle with the disease will be displayed prominently atop the old Naval Reserve Building at South Lake Union Park from Sept. 14 – 18, with visibility from most points around Lake Union. Emmy Award winning news anchor, Jean Enersen of NBC affiliate KING TV will headline the post-regatta participant breakfast at Seattle’s Pocock Rowing Center.

NEWS
Check out news, results and press releases from Row for the Cure® regattas across the country. Click here.

TAKE THE LEAD
If you’re rowing, dragon boat, or canoe kayaking club is interested in hosting a Row for the Cure® , click here for our easy “Set-up Kit”.

DONATE NOW
Don’t wait until race day to help win the race against breast cancer. Donate to your local Komen Foundation affiliate today.

RECENT STUDY
According to a British study, children of women with breast cancer often sensed that something was wrong before being told.  Read more.

Meet Row for the Cure Founder
Kathy Frederick