50+ Lifestyles

The 25th Anniversary of Race for the Cure!

By Christina McNamara-Schmidt
Komen Quad Cities PR/Marketing and Sponsorship Chair

It’s a milestone event for the Quad Cities: the 25th Anniversary of Race for the Cure!

Please join us on Saturday, June 14 at 8 a.m. for our annual Race, which begins and ends outside of the iWireless Center in downtown Moline.

In addition to the 5K and 1.2 mile run/walk, you can also enjoy the survivor ceremony, kids zone, and new this year-After Party for the Cure!

Registrants are encouraged to stay and play after the Race ends in downtown Moline, as many restaurants and businesses are opening early with specials for those wearing a Race tshirt or showing their Race bib.

Also, you could be a winner along this year’s course…..so watch out for the Pink Prize Patrol. Walkers and runners will be randomly selected and adorned with a pink sash and will find out their prize after the Race. Prizes include airline tickets, an ipad, jewelery, and more!

Register online today at www.komenquadcities.org or at packet pick-up at the iWireless Center on Friday, June 13 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The First Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure was held in 1990. Over the past 25 years:

• 177,000 people have registered for the Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure and walked or ran approximately
470,000 miles!
• 10,609 breast cancer survivors have crossed the finish line!
• $5.5 million has been raised in the fight against breast
cancer. Nearly $4.2 million has been invested directly in the health of local women. Komen Quad Cities has funded more than 46,5000 free or low-cost breast health screenings.
• $1.3 million has been invested in groundbreaking research to find a cure

Honorary Survivor Chair Nancy Blow

After leaving a breast health education event at her local church, Nancy Blow did exactly as the nurse suggested. Nancy performed a breast self-exam, and to her surprise, she felt something similar to the lump that she felt on the model.

Nancy, then, age 40, called her doctor. With no baseline mammogram, doctors worked and determined that Nancy had early-stage breast cancer.

“My initial reaction was that I was too young. My daughter, Julie, was only 15, and she didn’t need to have her mom fighting a terrible disease. I was determined to fight it with everything I had,” said Blow, now age 57, of Tipton.

In celebration of Blow’s breast cancer journey, the Komen Quad Cities Affiliate is naming her the Honorary Survivor Chair for 2014.

While Nancy’s cancer was found early, her journey didn’t go unchallenged. Nancy had a single mastectomy, and she was very nauseous from 6 months of chemotherapy.

“I was sick and tired of being sick and tired when I wasn’t sick and tired in the first place,” said Nancy, now a 17-year breast cancer survivor.

Thankfully, Nancy ‘s cancer has not returned since she finished her treatment more than a decade ago. She now works for the Iowa Association of School Business Officials.

Nancy says her faith in God led her through her struggle. She was also loved and supported by her husband, John, her daughter, Julie, friends, her oncologist, and co-workers at the New London Community School District along the way.

Nancy was nominated for the Honorary Survivor Chair role by numerous women, including Bev Petitgout of Tipton.

“Nancy is such an uplifting person. She is always there for everyone. She is good-hearted,” said Petigout.

Through her role as Honorary Survivor Chair, Nancy hopes she can help other women.

“I want them to know that there is hope. Komen does research and brings awareness to women and helps provide services that they need,” she said.