Richmond Cross Country Supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation

Richmond Women's Cross Country Team, dressed in pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, raised money and awareness on October 22, 2011.

(L-R) Coach Lori Taylor, Allie Mannon, Lydia Morton, Taylor Clevinger, Emily Graber, ANDI DEFONCE, Roxanne Henningson, Clare Moretz, Jill Prentice, Dana Guglielmo...Back Rom (R-L) Liz Schinski, Emma Berry, Amanda Lineberry, Beth Kelly and Alyson McGonigle.

Cross Country Team Donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation
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...Teams Ran a Combined Total of 270 Miles Saturday Morning

Andi DeFonce

Richmond senior cross country and track & field team member Andi DeFonce (Major: Business Administration …Concentration: MGMT-Innovation & Entrepreneurship) knows there is something special about October and she knew she wanted to make a difference, especially on national “Make A Difference Day”. On Saturday morning (October 22, 2011) she organized her Spider cross country teammates to support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"October is a very eventful month--Despite all of the Halloween boos, and ahhs,” said DeFonce. “October to me is a powerful month as it stands to commemorate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In high-school, I was very involved in charitable events and volunteer opportunities in my community. In college, however, you find that extra time is a scarce resource, especially as a student-athlete, so my ability to expend energy towards other areas has decreased. My desire though to make a difference has never changed. As a senior member on the XC team...I decided to capitalize on my time spent running, with my desire to make a difference. As a result, I came up with the idea of having our team do a long run in efforts to raise awareness about the fight against Breast Cancer, and collect donations to support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation's mission in 'saving lives, empowering people, ensuring quality for all, and energizing science to find cures'.

Cool morning temperatures greeted the men’s and women’s teams as they combined their efforts and gathered near William Byrd and Maymont Parks in Richmond on National Make A Difference Day when millions of volunteers from around the world engage and serve to improve the world through a ‘day of doing good’.

The Spider women begin their run
to support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

"It's a week before our big championship meet, and a point in the semester in which the compilation of our academic priorities has semblance to a tome. Despite our hectic schedules, the team responded to my challenge in supporting National Breast Cancer month, no differently then I had expected: with excitement, and pride. Our coaches challenge us every day to run with a purpose, to support each other, and be the best that we can be, so I knew our efforts in joining together for the purpose of raising awareness against Breast Cancer, and fighting for the cure would be plausible, and align well with who we are as a team. It was very exciting and special to see everyone throw on some pink--ribbons, headbands, compression socks, shorts, tee-shirts, and running skirts, and run with a purpose greater than our own."

Fountain Lake in Richmond's William Byrd Park

"As an athlete you learn that every individual's effort collectively leads to something great. Power to the Pink! As a female athlete it was very empowering to band a group of healthy-women together in hopes of finding a cure."

On this morning team members ran a total of over 270 miles with each running between 10 miles and 15 miles on the streets of Richmond and Northbank Trails, which are part of the James River Trail system within the city. Several even found themselves running with athletes in the “Make A Difference 5K” at one point before returning to their starting point.

The men's and women's teams before the run.

“We are proud of our teams”, said Spiders Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, Coach Lori Taylor. “It’s encouraging to see the support and recognition of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and how it has grown over the past two decades. To witness the next generation of young people supporting the foundation is exciting. Andi DeFonce’s leadership to support such a worthy cause exemplifies the student-athletes we have here at the University of Richmond. They do so much for our community and throughout the world because they want to. They are making a difference and that, we can all be proud of.”

For more on Community Service Projects supported by the University of Richmond Cross Country and Track & Field teams go here:

 Community Service Based Activities by Track & Field and Cross Country Student-Athletes

A FEW PHOTOS FROM SATURDAY:

Alyson McGonigle fixes her headband before the run.

Jillian Prentice and Roxanne Henningson finish.

Nicol Traynor made it back from her race in time
to support the team. She placed 2nd  in the
Charlottesville Fall Festival 10K (READ HERE)

Coach Taylor talks with women's team members.

(L-R) Alli Mannon, Liz Schinski, Amanda Lineberry, Emma Berry
and Roxanne Henningson.

Freshmen Matthew Groff and Billy Fayette finish.

The Northbank Trails are part of the
James River Park system in Richmond.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation (from their website):
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. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.

That promise is now Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1.9 billion since inception in 1982. As the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, we’re working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® and the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure®, and generous contributions from our partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, we have become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. 

U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics from BreastCancer.Org
• About 1 in 8 U.S. women (just under 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.

• In 2011, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 57,650 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.

• About 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men in 2011. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.

• From 1999 to 2005, breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. decreased by about 2% per year. The decrease was seen only in women aged 50 and older. One theory is that this decrease was partially due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the results of a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk.

• About 39,520 women in the U.S. were expected to die in 2011 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1990 — especially in women under 50. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.

• For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.

• Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. Just under 30% of cancers in women are breast cancers.

• White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African-American women. However, in women under 45, breast cancer is more common in African-American women than white women. Overall, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer. Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women have a lower risk of developing and dying from breast cancer.

• In 2011, there were more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the US.

• A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.

• About 5-10% of breast cancers can be linked to gene mutations (abnormal changes) inherited from one’s mother or father. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common. Women with these mutations have up to an 80% risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, and they are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age (before menopause). An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations.

• In men, about 1 in 10 breast cancers are believed to be due to BRCA2 mutations, and even fewer cases to BRCA1 mutations.

• About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.

READ MORE HERE