Interesting People. Linda B. Washkuhn, Founder, Susan G. Komen Peoria Race for the Cure Peoria Memorial Affiliate

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1 Linda B. Washkuhn, Founder, Susan G. Komen Peoria Race for the Cure Peoria Memorial Affiliate

2 The Race Today Participants 25,000 7 of the Tri-County population 350,000; Dallas 2,350,000 x 7 = 165,000 people Carbondale, 25,000; Kankakee, 25, of the State of Illinois Counties have populations under 25,000 Men, women, children, walkers, riders, motorcyclists (1,500) Pekin, Federal prison, six breast cancer survivors "Spirit runners", approximately $2,500 in contributions per year The Date and Place Mother's Day weekend; Metro Centre/University Street; honorary signs; City of Peoria Specifications 5k/1k; sanctioned Contributions to date $1 million 1

3 The Disease Equal Opportunity Men, women, children, age no barrier Prostate cancer, 17; breast cancer, 16; lung cancer, 13% Global: breast cancer diagnosed every 29 seconds Over the next 25 years, 15 million men and women will be diagnosed, 10 million will die Without a Cure One in eight women in the US will continue to be diagnosed with breast cancer 2

4 Susan G. Komen Elder daughter of Marvin and Eleanor Goodman Richwoods High School Homecoming Queen University of Missouri; college beauty queen; personality; interests Modeling; Bergner s; Carson Pirie Scott; Stan Komen; two children, Stephanie and Scott Linda Millikin University; Homecoming Queen; modeling at age 15 Salvation Army modeling; Bill, two children, Reeve and JW 12 years; best friend Suzy s death Suzy, age 30; Stage 4 cancer, out of control, intense chemotherapy; population... When I get better, let s do something about this ; fix up the waiting room Death at age 33; Linda holds Suzy in her arms Bedside talks her soul; life experiences Suzy died so that others can survive? 3

5 The 1980 s: #1 Music/Movies/TV Flashdance; Every Breath You Take; The Big Chill; Mr. Mom; Dallas; 60 Minutes; Terms of Endearment; Shirley McLaine Books/Awards Jane Fonda Workout; Lech Walesa, Nobel Peace Prize; In Search of Excellence; Return of the Jedi Fashion Mini-skirts; shoulder pads; slouch socks; skateboarding; break dancing; sweatbands People Ronald Reagan, President; Sally Ride (age 32), first woman in space, Ph.D. in physics, Stanford, astrophysics and free-electron laser physics; Karen Carpenter dies Events Korean airlines flight 007; Soviet jet interceptors; 269 die; Superbowl -- Washington Redskins (27) vs. Miami Dolphins (17); John Riggins 166 yards, 38 attempts 4

6 The 1980 s: #2 The Culture/The Closet Tennessee Williams; Streetcar Named Desire; "General Conspiracy Against Sensitivity" Veiled discussions; closets; femininity; attacks the soul; the role of the man Other forms of discrimination religion; race, color, creed; MS; Down syndrome; Autism why different? Sea Change Abraham Lincoln/Charles Darwin/social and intellectual change/circumstances ripe for change Was the world (and Peoria) ripe for social change? 5

7 The Beginning of the Race Dallas, Texas Polo match; first race Nancy Brinker, former spouse, Norman, Chili's, Brinker International; Suzy's younger sister; Ambassador to Hungary; Chief of Protocol; Manpower; US Oncology The Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research; $100,000 goal Kitchen Table From Dallas to "... will it play in Peoria?"; business plan Absence of formal training; dove into the deep end; this isn't Dallas (fresh cut flowers) The template; fundraising The printer; Sherm Burris (Ed Asner); Metropolitan Printing, East Peoria Jim Frye Bernie Kouri; The Chateau; 1,000 muffins/fruit plate grew to 6,000 Phil Lockwood; Steve Shostrom; Sheriff's Posse Suzy Reverse the roles 6

8 The Transition: Junior League/Affiliate 1983 Betty Ford Jr. League/breast cancer/betty Ford/Knox College letter; run from the truth 1986 The first Peoria Race; Junior League template; Mary Heller/Vicki Stewart. Race for the Cure; 1,500 participants raised $20,000; $500 projected 1993 From the Peoria Junior League to the first regional Komen affiliate 2008 Other affiliates: 125 Worldwide; some have failed Linda's Management Style "You never own a relationship which you physically possess." 7

9 Ms. Linda Family Buffalo, New York; Harold "Red" Bruninga (FBI, accountant,.38 caliber pistol); Jessie Bruninga (special ed teacher); two brothers, Jay and Mike J. Edgar Hoover Washington DC meeting; Linda age 10; Jessie's impression Awards/Activities Illinois State Medical Society Alliance, 2007 Humanitarian Award Winner Harry Connick, Jr. benefit concert Heart of Illinois and JC Penney Golden Rule Award; Cochair, LPGA Peoria golf event Initial recipient, Komen Memorial Affiliate, Inc., Education Leadership Award; Komen Foundation National Volunteer of the Year Award Member, Brenda Edgar's State of Illinois Women's Health "Friend to Friend" campaign 8

10 Women s Health Initiative: Dubai 2007 The Team Karen Hughes, under Secretary of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs; Nancy Brinker; Linda Washkuhn The Mechanics The flight in; the luggage; the duration; the speeches. The Culture Peoria, 1983; "...little spoken, private and personal matter, matter of fate; general conspiracy against sensitivity;" the veils, the closets, the conspiracy Will it play in the Middle East? 9

11 The Mission Education Federal government now devotes more than $900 million each year to breast cancer research; $30 million in 1982 More early detection; 75% of women over 40 now have regular mammograms vs. less than 30% in 1982 Survival rate, if caught early, 98% currently, vs. 74% in 1982 Summary World's largest grass roots network of breast cancer survivors and activists; save lives; empower people; ensure quality care; energize science to find a cure Personnel 70,000+ volunteers; 100 staff members; 125 Worldwide affiliates The Cure Costs 1983, $1.3 billion; 2004, more than $72 billion; alternative remedies Grants More than $1 million to date Survivors 2.3 million 10

12 The Future of Ms. Linda Linda High points of your affiliation Nancy Reagan, Betty Ford, Laura Bush and other First Ladies? The kitchen table in 1980; did you anticipate the current state of the Race? Intellectually, where are you going? What drives you? Final Question Any question not asked of you that I should have asked of you? 11