nwasianweekly.com
June 14, 2008

Northwest Asian Weekly file photo

Participants in the 2007 Walk for Rice look eager to start. Wonder how many will be back this year?

These events were made for walking

By Eleanor Lee
Northwest Asian Weekly

Some Saturdays were made for sleeping in and lounging around. But not Saturday, June 21.

On that day — the day after the summer solstice, the official start of summer, though the weather will probably not reflect it — two local organizations are holding their annual fundraising walks: Asian Counseling and Referral Services’ Walk for Rice and Susan G. Komen Puget Sound’s Race for the Cure.

Though it’s unfortunate that supporters will have to choose which event to attend, both are important community organizations and worthwhile causes, and both are hoping for high turnout and generous pledges.

Walk for Rice

Walk for Rice is an annual 2.5-mile benefit walk and fun-run held at Seward Park. Established 18 years ago, the walk has grown from 45 walkers and $2,500 its first year to more than 1,000 participants. This year, the goal is to raise $115,000, which will go to supporting ACRS’ Food Bank.

ACRS operates the only food bank that distributes rice weekly in Washington state. Located in the International District, the food bank supplies culturally appropriate food to 5,000 low-income Asian Pacific American households each month.

According to ACRS, rice prices have increased nearly 14 percent in just three months. Without additional funding, that 14 percent inflation will prevent the food bank from serving 694 households each month.

“If the inflation stays on, we will only have 85 percent of rice available to our food bank clients with the same amount of money we spent in 2007,” said Gary Tang, program director. “We need to purchase 5,000 pounds of rice a week to serve our clients. We urge the community to support us by participating in Walk for Rice.”

Race for the Cure

The 15th annual Komen Puget Sound Race for the Cure will be held the same day at Qwest Field.

Many people don’t know the story of the real life Susan G. Komen: In 1982, Komen died of breast cancer at the age of 26. Her sister, Nancy Brinker, made a promise to do everything in her power to end breast cancer.

Komen for the Cure is now the largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists working to find a cure.

This year’s fundraising goal for Race for the Cure is $2 million. According to Komen Puget Sound, approximately 75 percent of the money raised will help local women with breast cancer meet their financial obligations, and the rest will go to support national programs like breast cancer research.

“The Race for the Cure is an amazing opportunity for people in our community to come together and dedicate their efforts to end breast cancer,” Executive Director Mona Locke said, adding that “some people participate as a way to pay tribute to their loved ones who have died from breast cancer.”

Race for the Cure events include a women’s 5K run, a one-mile co-ed walk, a co-ed 5K wheelchair race, a co-ed 5K run and a 5K co-ed/family walk.

There will also be featured activities for race participants who are breast cancer survivors, such as the Survivor Breakfast and Survivor Parade.

Locke said, “For breast cancer survivors, (the race) is a way to celebrate life and inspire and empower others through their personal stories.”

Survivors will be especially easy to spot in their special pink hats and shirts.

According to the American Cancer Society, among women in the U.S., breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second-most common cause of cancer death (after lung cancer). While Asian American women experience low rates of breast cancer historically, according to a study by University of Southern California researchers, the current rate of breast cancer among Asian American women is climbing and may be approaching those of white women.

For more information about ACRS’ Walk for Rice, visit www.walkforrice.com. For more information about Komen Puget Sound’s Race for the Cure, visit www.pugetsoundraceforthecure.org.

Eleanor Lee can be reached at e.lee@nwasianweekly.com.