Especially for You® Race Against Breast Cancer celebrates its 25th year
Registration is open through race day on Sunday, Oct. 4
Race day is near! Registration is still open for the 25th annual Especially for You® (EFY) Race Against Breast Cancer, co-founded by Mercy Medical Center and General Mills. To date, more than 403 teams and 14,000 individuals have registered to participate.
The race supports the Especially for You fund, providing mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies and other breast-care services to individuals in need. In the past five years, more than 3,000 individuals have accessed more than 5,500 services through the EFY fund.
This year’s 25th anniversary race is Sunday, Oct. 4. Individuals can register for the race online through Tuesday, Sept. 29 at www.especiallyforyourace.org. After Sept. 29, registration can be completed in-person by going to the EFY office in Mercy’s Hall-Perrine Cancer Center Wednesday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday registration is available from 8 a.m. to noon. On race day, registration and packet pick-up takes place at Mercy’s Hall-Perrine Cancer Center lobby from 7 to 7:30 a.m. For additional information, call the EFY race line at (319) 398-6582.
Ready, Set…
On race day, opening ceremonies begin at 7:45 a.m. and the race starts at 8 a.m. The starting line is on Tenth St. SE in front of Hall-Perrine Cancer Center. The race includes a 5K run, 5K walk and a family fun walk covering new course routes, finishing in the historic NewBo district on Cedar Rapids’ southeast side. Race participants are encouraged to stay after the race to enjoy family and children’s activities, live music, and a pancake breakfast near the finish line.
Survivor Photo
On race morning, breast cancer survivors are invited to gather at the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center parking lot, to the right of the building’s main entrance, at 7:15 a.m. to participate in a group photo, which will be taken at 7:30 a.m.
Parking
Thanks to the generosity of Park Cedar Rapids and NTS, several parking options and free shuttle service are available to race participants. All downtown parking ramps will be open and available for $2 per vehicle. Free parking is available in Czech Village parking lots.
For More Information
You’ll find everything you need to prepare for the race online at www.especiallyforyourace.org, including registration forms, course routes, post-race party information, parking and shuttle availability, race FAQs, EFY merchandise descriptions, volunteer opportunities, and breast cancer resources.
The EFY race and fund are dedicated to the memory of Sandy Knight, a Whittier resident and General Mills employee who died of breast cancer in July 1991. Knight co-founded Mercy’s Especially for You After Breast Cancer Support Group. Her dream was to establish a race to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and education.
Breast cancer is most treatable and curable when detected in its earliest stages. Even so, breast cancer claims more than 40,000 lives each year. This number can be reduced with early detection through clinical breast exam and mammography.
