The sun was shining down on this year’s Komen Race for the Cure, but all was not well in Pink Ribbon Land. Due to the recent uproar over the national organization’s off-and-on-again support for Planned Parenthood, Austin’s Komen Race attendance was down to just 15,000 this year. Donations were considerably lower as well. The walk still felt crowded but we did notice that there were fewer sponsor booths with less free giveaways.  

The Austin American-Statesman published an editorial this week titled, “Komen Austin never let us down, so why are we letting it down?” The piece noted that the local organization is a separate nonprofit that provides much-needed breast cancer services here and that Komen Austin’s grants to Planned Parenthood had continued without interruption during the controversy at the national level.

Too many of my friends and relatives have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Race for the Cure is one way that I can show my support for them. I was thrilled and honored to walk arm-in-arm across the finish line with my survivor friends. Donations can still be posted to our team page through the end of November.