Beyond the Pink – Breaking Records For A Cure.
From inside out and outside in, Sycuan Casino’s employees give their heart and soul volunteering for a wide range of organizations in the region. There is no other partnership like when a sea of pink fundraising Sycuan Team Members break records at Susan G. Komen San Diego’s Race for the Cure.
Long before the Casino started to be a sponsor in 2010, it was already supporting the cause, and doing much more by helping spread the word about breast cancer awareness in San Diego. What started as the Casino supporting two of its own now has become the largest team in the race!
Last year witnessed 736 Sycuan Team Members along with family and friends hit the pavement for Susan G. Komen’s mission. 2015 also saw two of Sycuan’s own as Co-Honorary Survivors, and they are always honored to share their stories experiencing breast cancer.
Rochelle Bradley and Fran Robinson, co-workers and friends at Sycuan, each had the opportunity to share their powerful journeys of battles and victories with breast cancer. Bradley shared with Giving Back Magazine the life-changing importance of Komen in her life, “I can’t say enough about how thankful I am and how much Sycuan has supported the cause throughout the years.” With the biggest team behind them, the women are once again excited for Sycuan’s involvement in 2016 along with over 15,000 area residents helping further Komen’s services and research grants.
With six women diagnosed and one perishing from breast cancer per day in San Diego, providing free health services is an ever-ongoing duty for the organization. From diagnostic mammograms, MRI’s, and ultrasounds to financial aid, meals, and emotional support, Susan G. Komen San Diego is there to fill the gaps.
In tandem with services, research is a huge part of the non-profit agency’s mission. Next to the United States government, Komen is the biggest funder on Earth for breast cancer investigations. With 25% of proceeds from races going to international research outfits, and 75% for local breast cancer health services, the support has benefitted San Diego entities like University of California San Diego and Salk Institute.
Last year, UCSD’s doctors Jay Desgrosellier and Jia Shen along with Salk’s scholar Geoffrey Wahl, were awarded over one million dollars for their respective work in finding treatments and cures for breast cancer. Thanks to community partners like Sycuan Casino and many others, breakthroughs and services are helping patients survive this disease.
“The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation has accomplished something remarkable: it has helped save the lives of thousands of women in San Diego,” shared Komen San Diego’s president and CEO Laura Farmer Sherman. “On behalf of the patients and survivors benefitting from Sycuan’s generosity, thank you for making a difference in their lives and in the lives of future generations.”
Sycuan is proud of its partnership with Susan G. Komen San Diego and support the organization through financial backing, hotel stays, and recently, the casino has added an in-kind drinking water donation as part of their engagement. From the organization’s San Diego’s offices to golfing events and more, Sycuan is quenching the thirst of supporters of breast cancer awareness everywhere Komen needs a hand!
With this year’s Race for the Cure coming up, Sycuan Team Members’ eyes are set on shattering their own record. They will be gearing up all October with pink shirts, walking the casino and sharing the message of breast cancer awareness, celebrating survivorship and honoring victims. Sycuan Casino is challenging San Diego citizens and companies to join in this year’s race, and if anyone is up for it, beat their record of 736 participants – now taking bets!
