‘Pink Bag Lunches’ will aid in fight against cancer

Marie Ekberg

COSTA MESA -- Each day, one Orange County woman dies of breast cancer

and five more are diagnosed with it -- numbers the Susan G. Komen

Foundation is working to reduce.

To help them decline, the foundation, the largest private funder of

breast cancer research in the the country, is beginning a series of

educational forums, “Pink Bag Lunches.”

The first meeting Friday should give interested people, cancer survivors

and family members the chance to learn about breast cancer treatments and

breast health, said Shawn Post, volunteer manager at the foundation.

“It is extremely important to learn about breast cancer since early

detection is key,” Post said. “The purpose is to make people more aware

and understand the treatment process better.”

The meetings fit in with the foundation’s goal of eradicating the

life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and

treatment, Post added.

The nonprofit foundation has grown tremendously since Nancy Brinker

established it in 1982 in memory of her sister, Susan Komen, who died of

breast cancer.

‘Every woman deserves to survive breast cancer,’ said Suzeanne Pacini,

chairwoman of the Orange County Komen Race for the Cure, California’s

largest 5K run, with more than 20,000 participants each year.

‘The race is a life-changing event,’ Pacini said about the $1 million

fund-raising event scheduled Sept. 26 in Newport Beach.

More than 75% of the proceeds go to education, community outreach and

treatment programs.

“We have helped more than 500 Orange County women this year through our

treatment grant program,” Pacini said. “These women would otherwise have

fallen through the cracks of the system since there is no federal or

state funding for treatment of women under 40 years.”

The race has raised more than $3 million in seven years.

“It is personally rewarding to see the change in the community,” said

Pacini, who is one of 1,500 volunteers working during this year’s race.

For more information about the “Pink Bag Lunches” and the race, including

on-line registration, visit the foundation’s web site www.occure.com