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Komen Upstate Has Rescheduled Pink Walk

The 20th anniversary Susan G. Komen Upstate New York More Than Pink Walk has been rescheduled for Sept 5 due to coronavirus concerns.

The event was originally planned for June 13, and will still be held at the Buffalo RiverWorks. Funds raised will go programs aimed at reducing breast cancer deaths in the U.S. by 50% by 2026.

“It wasn’t a decision that we came to lightly but it was something that we knew needed to be done,” said Caroline Hurley, development manager for Susan G. Komen Upstate New York.

The race was formerly called the Race For A Cure, but was recently renamed. “We’re all walking together as a community, rather than a race where it is about who gets to the finish line first,” Hurley said.

The rescheduling has placed three of the organizations most important events within an eight-week time period. Along with the More Than Pink Walk, Komen Upstate will also host the third annual Night In White on Aug. 30, and a breast cancer luncheon on Oct. 3 at the Buffalo Convention center.

The Night In White will be held at a surprise location announced shortly before taking place, and was hosted by Medaille College in 2019. For those hoping to attend the breast cancer luncheon, Komen Upstate is able to underwrite any costs to attend for breast cancer survivors, those undergoing treatment or those who are newly diagnosed, thanks to the contributions of sponsors. “We are going to have a jam-packed eight weeks, but is it something that needed to be done for sure,” Hurley said, citing the need to focus on public health.

Komen Upstate came to the rescheduling decisions independently, but the organization as a whole has taken similar steps.

“We had come to the decision on our own but we were happy that headquarters were supporting our decision to do that. A lot of our affiliates have done the same, whether it be down in Philadelphia, New England, Atlanta or Florida,” Hurley said.

Like many organizations, Komen Upstate has taken steps to implement social distancing for events, as well as meetings and everyday operations.

“We have changed a lot of events and meetings to virtual meetings,” Hurley said. “We have changed a lot of our internal meetings to videoconferencing. All of the staff is working from home right now.”

The organization has also taken steps to stay in contact with breast cancer survivors, their families, those who have been newly diagnosed, and all those affected by the disease.

“Just because we can’t meet face to face, we want people to know we are here for them and are here to support them,” Hurley said.

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