A more secure Race for the Cure
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 09 May 2013 19:56
- Written by Paul Gordon
The sea of pink wrought by the 10,000-plus participants in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure this Saturday won't be surprising; it's common on the day before Mother's Day.
What will seem different this year will be the presence of security as the Race kicks off for the 28th consecutive year from the Metro Centre in the heart of the city.
"There will be a visible difference with the amount of security we will have this year. And yes, it certainly is in reaction to what occurred in Boston," said Gina Morss-Fischer, development director for the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Memorial Affiliate in Peoria.
She was referring to the bombs that exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15, killing three and injuring many others. One of the two men accused of placing the bombs reportedly told police the plan was to place the bombs in an area where there was a large concentration of people.
Since then many events across the country have beefed up security.
Morss-Fischer said Phil Lockwood, race director of the Race for the Cure, was on the telephone that very afternoon talking with the race's security partners. "We'll have the most security for this year's race than we've ever had," she said.
"It's really too bad we and other events have to resort to that, but it's a sign of our times, I guess. But we are doing everything we can to make sure our participants still feel that the Race is all about celebrating and creating a celebration atmosphere," Morss-Fischer said.
Saturday's activities begin when the Kid's Corner opens at 7 a.m. Aerobic warm-up exercises begin at 7:10 a.m. and at 7:20 a.m. survivors will gather for a procession and photograph.
The 5K Competitive/Timed Run will begin at 8 a.m. followed by the 5K Family Run/Walk at 8:05 a.m. and the one-mile Family Run/Walk at 8:15 a.m.
"We expect more than 10,000 participants this year," Morss-Fischer said. "That is down a little from last year (about 11,000 in 2012) but when we look at events across the country right now most of them are down a little. Compared with some others we're doing really well."
Other events that surround the Race for the Cure include the Pray for the Cure event,, which was Thursday night at Salem Lutheran Church in Peoria. Other fundraising events with proceeds going to Susan G. Komen For The Cure have been ongoing all year.
A new sponsor this year is Lazy Boy and one of the participants in the Race will be going home with a new, pink recliner.
Kitchen Cooked Potato Chips of Farmington is donating 10 cents from every pink bag of chips sold to the Komen organization.
Other sponsors include Kroger, which will serve breakfast to the participants on Saturday; Caterpillar Inc., Komatsu Ltd., Par-A-Dice Hotel/Casino, RLI Corp., dex, CityLink, the Metro Centre and Illinois Valley Striders and many more.
"We couldn't do this without our sponsors, of course, and we can't thank them enough," Morss-Fischer said.
