Cancer is a very real and scary thing in my family, particularly breast and ovarian cancer. When I give my medical history to new doctors, they usually stop writing about five minutes into it and just stare at me. It’s that bad, especially on my mom’s side.

When the Susan G. Komen Foundation reached out and asked me to post information about the Global Race for the Cure, I promised to help. I had completely forgotten to write about it until I saw their newsletter this morning.

The 21st annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Washington, D.C. will be tomorrow morning. Per the organization’s newsletter, late registration is still open today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency on the Hill.

The race kicks off tomorrow morning at  7:30 a.m. with opening ceremonies on the National Mall.

Awareness of breast cancer is an interesting topic. Many companies have been accused of pink-washing to get a coveted pink ribbon on their packaging. For example, is it good for KFC to promote breast cancer awareness when obesity increases cancer risks?  It’s also hard to track where all the money goes. So many huge organizations are raising money to fight cancer. How do you ensure accountability?

The Komen Foundation passed on local facts:

Last year, the race raised $4.7 million for local education and community outreach programs that work tirelessly to assist vulnerable populations.  Some organizations that received grants this year include: Whitman-Walker Clinic on 14^th Street, Food and Friends, Georgetown University and Sibley Memorial Hospital.

There has been some controversy over the Komen Foundation funding grants for Planned Parenthood, which is explained here. Given their history and priorities, I would love to see Planned Parenthood close down its doors throughout the country. They are the main source of reproductive health care in many rural and low income neighborhoods and do provide services besides abortion. Quite simply, Christians have neglected to fill this gap in services, so Planned Parenthood stepped in to fill a legitimate need. It doesn’t make the entire organization less reprehensible, but I have no issue with the Komen Foundation fulfilling its mission by funding organizations with the capacity to help.

Unfortunately, there are many murky political issues that surround cancer research. Those should be examined and are important. However, when you watch a relative slowly waste away from cancer that should have been detected early or watch someone struggle through chemo, it changes your perspective. I think the Komen Foundation has tried to address this issue and respect both sides while fulfilling their goal.

Anyone with a loved one facing the Big C understands the need to do something about it. I’m not a research scientist or a nurse. I can’t help patients with cancer or find a cure for the disease, but I can donate money and raise awareness of programs that are helping patients and searching for a cure.