"I get a lot of hugs that I hardly deserve," confessed 2004 Komen Ozark Race for the Cure® Co-Chair Walt Eilers, whose alter ego is President of Terrapin Consulting, LLC. "I've been overwhelmed by the number of women I've encountered who are affected by breast cancer," he continued. "My volunteer experience has taught me that you can have a great time, make a great impact and make lifetime friends. Komen is a part of the fabric of Northwest Arkansas that I have really come to love."

Currently, NWA leads the state in breast cancer, so there is a glaring need to draw together resources to finance mammography and treatment for those either uninsured or underinsured as well as awareness education. A celebration and demonstration of hope, courage and support in the fight against breast cancer, the Race scheduled for Saturday, April 24, 2004, at the NWA Mall in Fayetteville, represents one of over 100 Race for the Cure® sites and remains the flagship of the region's fundraising efforts.

With over 11,500 men, women and children expected to participate this year, the Race requires scads of volunteers to help with preparations, including race registration, operations, hospitality, training, development, venue planning and marketing. These volunteers work behind the scenes year-round to coordinate a successful event with a low cost-to-income ratio, making it possible for an impressive 75% of the proceeds to fund local breast cancer projects and 25% to fund national research through the Susan G. Komen Foundation Grant Program.

"We are one of the few Races still growing," revealed Fayetteville resident Pam Grondin, who sits on both the Steering Committee and Operations Committee and focuses her energies on ensuring the Race venue is aesthetically sound and user-friendly for survivors, sponsors, spectators, volunteers and Race participants. "We have to change every year because our numbers, sponsors and money are growing. I'm simply amazed."

According to the volunteers, the day of the Race is one of resonant marvel. "The reward for volunteering," declared 3-year volunteer Andrea Taylor, Marketing Manager at the NWA Mall and member of the Race Operations Committee, "is the feeling you have on Race day when the survivors parade through the venue. Period." Remembering last year's Race, Eilers recounted, "I was engulfed by a sea of survivors in pink shirts, their positive spirit and their appreciation. I was surrounded by them and saw, from a new perspective, the impact of Komen."

Grondin also enjoys sharing in the mirth exuded by the survivors, of every shape and size, as they march triumphantly together and beam infectiously at the smiling faces of the onlookers. "It's so uplifting!" she described emphatically. In addition, she advocates the Race for the networking opportunities and camaraderie it affords the participants. The Race allows people beginning their battles with breast cancer to network with survivors, fostering an invaluable empathy, building lifelong relationships and ideally increasing the number of survivors in the following year.

Taylor boils down volunteering for the Komen Ozark Race for the Cure® to "making a difference," and Eilers deems it as a "chance to return the grace with which you have been blessed." Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Race, and every hour of time donated signifies one step closer to the ultimate goal: to find a cure for breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. "Take a year to volunteer, and see how good it makes you feel," Grondin challenged. "You may be hooked, and we'd love to have you."
About the Author
Copywriter/editor Jeannette Balleza is Co-Owner of Vulcan Creative (http://www.vulcancreative.com), a creative agency specializing professional graphic design and web development services. She also owns Scribe Marketing, Inc., which offers content development and refinement. jeannette@vulcancreative.com