History

Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and commitment to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer.

Though Susan lost her battle with the disease, her legacy lives on through the work of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the organization Nancy started in her honor. Komen for the Cure is the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1 billion since its inception in 1982. Komen’s 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.
Across the country, that promise is upheld by a network of 122 local Affiliate offices. At the heart of each Affiliate is a person or group of people who, like Susan, wanted to make a difference.

The Komen Upper Cumberland Affiliate, organized by a dedicated group of advocate/activists, was approved by the National Board in December of 2006.  The new entity filled an unserved geographical gap in Tennessee’s mid-state region, and  represents the 14 rural counties of the Upper Cumberland region.  From knowledge gained through the original Community Profile submitted with our application we knew that our efforts needed to be focused on education, screening and treatment.

Since then, we have participated in countless local health fairs to provide breast health information to local residents.  We have held two hugely successful “Pink Sundays” involving area churches to help raise awareness, and we have provided speakers for dozens of speaking opportunities at community and civic organizations, raised money through  our signature“Tee it up for the Cure” Annual Golf Tournament three consecutive years, and with other efforts funded more than $250,000 in grants to area non-profits to serve  breast health education, screening and treatment in the our Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee.

Our effort continues to grow, and we are thrilled that we have now been approved by Komen National to host our first annual Upper Cumberland “Race for the Cure” 5K event this coming October.