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 Puget Sound Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded in1992, by CJ Taylor and a group of community volunteers, all of whom shared a vision of ending breast cancer forever.    The first Race for the Cure was held in the fall of 1994 with 3,000 participants and raised $56,000.  Following that first Race, the Puget Sound Affiliate awarded its first grants totaling $42,000. 

Since the founding of the affiliate in 1994, the 16th annual Race for the Cure held in June 2009, with 14,000 participants raised more than $1.7 million.  Since its inception, the Puget Sound Affiliate has awarded more than $20 million to local non profit organizations serving underserved women in our community providing breast cancer education, screening, and treatment support.