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Fighting Breast Cancer Will Be A Walk In The Park
By Keith Hagarty
A venue most famously known for thrills and chills has added compassion to their list of attractions.
The idea? Raise funds to find a cure for breast cancer.
Six Flags Great Adventure will be hosting this year's 14th Annual Komen NJ Race for the Cure on October 14, with festivities beginning at 7 a.m.
The annual race created by Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central and South Jersey, will include a USA Track and Field (USTAF) certified Women's and Men's 5K Run, a Co-Ed 2.5 miles or one mile walk and Children's Fun Runs.
The Komen Race for the Cure is the largest 5K race in New Jersey, attracting over 20,000 participants, survivors and activists. Touted as "more than a walk and run,"
the race is viewed as a bonding process, bringing people together for the overriding cause to save lives.
According to the foundation's
mission statement; "Susan G. Komen for the
Cure works to save lives and to end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures."
This year marks the first time ever that Six Flags Great Adventure will serve as host of the walk. Previ- ously, it had been held in the Princeton area. Six Flags will be offering half-price admission to the theme park afterwards for any registered race participant. With each admission ticket purchased, Six Flags will donate $5 to Komen.
"We are so excited about our new partnership with Six Flags," said Nancy Healey, executive director of Komen Central and South Jersey Affiliate. "Its location is accessible to Komen supporters throughout our service area, and will help the race to continue to grow."
The decision to host the annual fundraiser was an easy one for the amusement park as well, according to Angel Aristone, public relations manager for Six Flags Great Adventure, Wild Safari and Hurricane Harbor.
"We were extremely excited to have the opportunity to be part of this great cause," said Aristone. "The great thing about hosting the race at our park is that the size of our property is large and accommodating."
Organizers expect this year's event to raise $2.1 million.
Of the net proceeds from the race, 25 percent will support national breast cancer research programs, with the remaining 75 percent staying in the local community. The goal of Komen Central and South Jersey's is to reduce late stage diagnoses of breast cancer with education and screening initiatives throughout its 13-county service area.
"We rely on the support of our sponsors, volunteers, team captains and donors to make the race a success and are truly grateful for their continued support," said Healey.
In addition to Six Flags Great Adventure, some of the other sponsors include: L'Oreal Paris; Women's Club of Westlake; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Dick's Sporting Goods; Johnson & Johnson; Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey; Commerce Bank; Abraxis BioScience; SES Americom; LifeCell; sanofi-aventis; Waterford Crystal; and Novartis Oncology.
The race day event registration fee is $30 for adults and $15 for children 10 and under. To pre-register for the race, to sign up to volunteer or for more information, go to www.komencsnj. org, or call 609-896-1201.
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