50+ Lifestyles

“Pink Tie Guys” Recruit Participants for the 20th Annual Race for the Cure

A group of Quad-City men sporting pink neck ties worked to boost participation in the 20th annual Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure®.

Twenty-six local men, including media personalities, businessmen, physicians, and longtime Race for the Cure® supporters accepted the challenge of each recruiting 5 new participants for this year’s June 13th Race. Co-Race Director Cathie Whiteside spearheaded the effort of recruiting the men who she says all looked awesome in a pink tie (see photo below).

“Over the past few years we have tried to hit 10,000 Race participants. We keep bumping up against it, but have never reached that number. The strategy is if we can engage an army of “Pink Tie Guys” to recruit new participants, we might just reach our goal for our 20th anniversary,” said Whiteside.

The good news is that the race did exceed its goal. On race day, they had 10,047 entries.

Six surgeons from the Davenport Surgical Group, who staff the Genesis Center for Breast Health, accepted the challenge of being a “Pink Tie Guy.”

“Anything that we can do to further the effort to reach a cure for breast cancer, develop effective prevention strategies, or assist patients who contract breast cancer- we will do. In this case, our effort is to further heighten awareness of breast cancer and support the Race for the Cure along with so many good people who have dedicated themselves to it,” said Dr. Joseph Lohmuller, President, Davenport Surgical Group, P.C., who added that the group has been involved with the Race since its inception in 1990.

Photo courtesy of John Mohr Photography

The founding group of the “Pink Tie Guys” included (listed first row, left to right; second row, left to right; third row, left to right in attached photo): Dr. Matthew Christophersen, Physician, Davenport Surgical Group; Vic Quinn, Executive Vice President, Quad City Bank & Trust; Jim Graham, Owner, 50+ Lifestyles Magazine; Greg Larrison, President, Larrison & Associates Architects; Dr. Douglas Khoury, Physician, Davenport Surgical Group; Jeff Gilfillan, Retired Partner, Isabel Bloom, LLC; Dan Kueter, President and CEO, United Healthcare Inc.; Bill Wundram, Columnist, The Quad-City Times; Frank Clark, Plant Manager, Nestle Purina PetCare; Joe Moreno, 3M and Race Director, Quad Cities Marathon; Dr. K. John Hartman, Physician, Davenport Surgical Group; Dr. Joseph Lohmuller, Physician, Davenport Surgical Group; Dr. Michael Phelps, Physician, Davenport Surgical Group; Ryan Burchett, Chief Meteorologist, KWQC-TV6; Chris Bush, Freshman, Assumption H.S., Junior Race Director, Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure®; Jay Whiteside, Business Analyst, Deere & Co., Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure® Co-Race Director; Fred Whiteside, Women’s Track & Cross Country Coach, Augustana College, Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure® Co-Race Director; Thom Cornelis, Sports Director, KWQC-TV6 Not available for photo: Gary Metivier, Anchor, KWQC-TV6; Jim Victor, SVP, Smith Barney & Financial Analyst, KWQC-TV6; Doug Cropper, President & CEO, Genesis Health System; Dr. David Aanestad, Physician, Davenport Surgical Group; John Anderson, President & CEO, Quad City Bank & Trust; Michael Whiteside, Asst. General Manager, Noodles & Company; Bill Cleaver, Attorney, Bozeman, Neighbour Patton & Noe; Kevin Mueller, CFO, Davenport Dryer, LLC.

About the Quad Cities Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure:

Quad Cities Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure—along with those who generously support us with their talent, time and resources—is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in our community. We join more than 100,000 breast cancer survivors and activists around the globe as part of the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer. Through events like the Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure®, we have invested $4.58 million in local breast health and breast cancer awareness projects in our 8-county, bi-state service area. Up to 75 percent of net proceeds generated by the Komen Quad Cities Affiliate stay in the QCA while the remaining income goes to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Programs supporting research, awards and educational and scientific programs around the world. Join us by calling 1-877-921-CURE (2873) or visiting us online at www.komenquadcities.org.

Local Presenting Sponsors for the 2009 Race are the Genesis Center for Breast Health and KLJB-TV.