Maine News Updates

The Race for the Cure, a major fundraiser for breast cancer research, is coming to Portland next year.

The September 2010 race in Portland will be held concurrently with the Bangor race, which is in its 13th year. The exact date has not been set yet, but the Bangor race is normally held on the third weekend in September, said Sally Bilancia, the executive director of the Komen Maine affiliate.

The Race for the Cure is a five-kilometer walk or run event. It drew more than 4,600 participants last year and raised about $270,000 for the Komen Maine affiliate in 2008. 

Bilancia said the race has set new attendance and fundraising records its last three years and expanding to southern Maine will help it continue to grow.

The Komen Maine affiliate has begun to put together a Portland Race for the Cure Committee, Bilancia said, and anyone interested in volunteering can download a volunteer form at www.komenmaine.com.

The Race for the Cure began when Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization was launched in 1982 and has raised more than $1.3 billion for the fight against breast cancer.

The Maine affliate has provided more than $1.5 million for community breast health programs throughout Maine.