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Celebrated
Runner, Breast Cancer Survivor to be Honored with
Suzy Komen Award at National Distance Running Hall
of Fame Induction Weekend
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the
National Distance Running Hall of Fame Present Second
Annual Award
UTICA, NY – July 1, 2003
– The Susan G.
Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, a leading catalyst
in the fight against breast cancer and host of the
celebrated Komen Race for the Cure® Series, and
the National Distance Running Hall of Fame will present
the second annual Suzy Komen Award to Judy Pickett
of Cameron Park, CA, a three-time breast cancer survivor
and devoted runner.
Pickett will be honored for her dedication to the
sport of running and the fight against breast cancer
during the National Distance Running Hall of Fame
Induction Weekend, an event encompassing the sixth
National Distance Running Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
and the 26th Annual Boilermaker 15-K Roadrace. The
ceremony will take place at the Stanley Performing
Arts Center in Utica, NY, Saturday, July 12 at 5:00
p.m. Pickett will be presented with a bronzed replica
of the signature Komen Race for the Cure® back
sign in addition to being featured in the Komen Race
for the Cure® Series Exhibit at the Hall of Fame.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the
National Distance Running Hall of Fame established
the Suzy Komen Award in 2002. Named for Susan G. Komen,
the inspiration behind the establishment of the Komen
Foundation and the Komen Race for the Cure‚
Series, the Suzy Komen Award is designed to recognize
the strength and growth of 20 years of the Komen Race
Series and to honor breast cancer survivors who race
competitively and compete in at least one of the more
than 100 Komen Race for the Cure‚ events around
the world. A panel of eight judges selected Pickett
as this year’s recipient.
“The Suzy Komen Award was created to exemplify
the courage, struggles and triumphs of a breast cancer
survivor, and Judy represents these traits,”
said Cindy Schneible, vice president of cause related
marketing and sponsorship for the Komen Foundation.
“Judy has found a way to channel her passion
for finding a cure for breast cancer into running.
She has been a great advocate of the Komen Foundation
and the Komen Race Series. We are honored to recognize
her with this award.”
Pickett is a three-time breast cancer survivor who
was first diagnosed in 1997. Eight months later, following
surgery and radiation, she ran her first Komen Race
for the Cure®. She went on to compete in 63 events
in that last 37 months, winning the survivor division
55 times. She has vowed to run in 100 breast cancer
running events. As a volunteer for the Komen Sacramento
Affiliate, she served as Teams Chairperson in 2000
and 2001. During that time, the number of teams signed
up for the Komen Sacramento Race increased from 42
to 125. Pickett and her husband Tod have three children,
Kyle, Ryan and Zachary.
“Each time I cross the finish line in a Komen
Race for the Cure®, I consider it a small victory.
Not the place that I come in, but the fact I was able
to compete at all, and finish the race. Even after
being diagnosed with my first and second recurrence,
I will not stop,” Pickett said. “I need
to continue to run for the women who have been diagnosed
with breast cancer that can no longer run, or have
already lost their race against breast cancer. I also
run for those women who haven’t begun their
race, but may in the future.”
About the National Distance Running Hall of Fame
The National Distance Running Hall of Fame was established
on July 11, 1998, to honor the sport of distance running.
The National Distance Running Hall of Fame is dedicated
to honoring athletes who have made contributions to
the sport of distance running, contributions that
have brought the sport fame and recognition. The National
Distance Running Hall of Fame houses exhibits such
as Runner’s World Magazine, New York City Marathon
Photo Collection, Chicago Marathon and the Komen Race
for the Cure® Series. For more information about
the National Distance Running Hall of Fame, visit
www.distancerunning.com.
About the Komen Foundation
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was founded
in 1982 on a promise made between two sisters - Nancy
Brinker and her dying sister, Susan G. Komen. More
than twenty years later, the Komen Foundation and
its Affiliate Network are global leaders in the fight
against breast cancer through their support of innovative
research and community-based outreach programs. The
Komen Foundation is the nation’s largest private
funding source for breast cancer research, raising
nearly $600 million for breast cancer research and
community outreach programs since its inception. For
more information about the Komen Foundation, breast
health or breast cancer, visit the Foundation’s
website, www.komen.org
or call the Komen Foundation National Toll-Free Breast
Care Helpline, 1.800 I’M AWARE® (1.800.462.9273). |
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