National Spotlight

Brainerd Lakes- About Us

Who We Are

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in the Brainerd Lakes area, began as one of 125 Affiliates around the world with a service area of Aitkin, Cass and Crow Wing counties in central Minnesota. On April 1st, 2010, it was merged with the Minnesota Affiliate, which serves the entire state. This merger provides syngeries of administration, fundraising, and grant distribution.

The Brainerd Lakes Affiliate began in 1999 and granted over $600,000 to community breast health programs through its major fundraiser, the Race for the Cure®.

• Grants fund educational programs, screening, treatment, as well as national research.
• Grants are awarded each year to non-profit organizations such as hospitals and community organizations
• Twenty-five percent of the net proceeds raised fund national breast cancer research through the highly regarded Komen Research and Awards Program.

The Minnesota Affiliate, formed in 1993, has raised more than $34 million for breast cancer programs, distributing more than $2.3 million in Minnesota in 2011 alone.

What We Do

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure® promise is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

We are dedicated to curing breast cancer at every stage – from the causes to the cures, to the pain and anxiety of every moment in between.

Empowering people: In over 25 years, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has become the largest grass roots organization in the world, with over 75,000 volunteers working in 125 affiliates to raise over $1.9 billion toward the goals of the Komen promise. The Race for the Cure® is the largest fundraiser for the organization. It was the first race for a cause ever, beginning in Dallas in 1982 with 800 women participating and now has millions of men and women running and walking for a cure.

Ensuring quality care for all: Up to 75% of all net profits remains in the local affiliate’s service area to fund grants for screening, treatment and education with focus on the underinsured and underserved.

Energizing science to find the cures: At least 25% of the net profits goes directly to the highly regarded Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grants program. None of these funds are used for administrative costs. Grants are awarded through a blind evaluation process to scientists around the world to fund innovative research toward better treatment and finding cures for the many types of breast cancer. Awards are given to those with proven success.

Much progress has been made in 25 years, from the time when a diagnosis of ‘the big C’ meant, at worst, at death sentence or, at best, a woman would lose chest and arm muscle, to treatment with lumpectomy and short courses of radiation and/or chemotherapy. With early detection, the survival rate is now over 95%. Still, we have a long way to go to assure that breast cancer is no longer a life-threatening disease. With the dedication of our volunteers and support of our sponsors and local communities, we continue to work diligently towards the Komen vision: A world without breast cancer.

Brainerd Lakes Race for the Cure Contacts:

Megan Morgan
Phone: 218-232-2188
Email: megankkmorgan@gmail.com

Lisa Slepica

Email: lisaslepica@charter.net