Especially for You® Race Against Breast Cancer marks 31st year
Participants may take part in-person or virtually
The 31st annual Especially for You® Race Against Breast Cancer (EFY) is almost here! To date, more than 12,000 people have registered to participate in the race, which is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 3.
The race supports the Especially for You Fund, providing mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, and other breast-care and gynecological cancer screenings and services to individuals in need. Throughout the years, more than 11,000 individuals have accessed more than 26,000 services through the EFY Fund.
Individuals can register for the race online at www.especiallyforyourace.org until race day. On-site registration will be available on race morning in front of the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center from 7 to 8:45 a.m.
When registering online, race participants may choose between attending the race in-person or participating virtually. For those participating in-person, the race will look a bit different this year as organizers have put extra safety measures in place. Namely, in order to limit the number of individuals congregating in one place, the race will start in three different waves – at 8, 8:30 and 9 a.m. For each wave, there will be five separate line-up zones containing a limited number of participants so as to maintain social distancing. Each participant’s bib number will have a sticker that indicates their wave time and zone.
Additionally, race organizers have implemented the following safety measures:
- Masks are required at the start and finish line areas and are also encouraged when passing others on the course.
- Contactless water stations are located along the course. Participants will pick up their own cups.
- Restroom facilities will offer hand sanitizer and washing stations.
- The breast cancer survivor large group photo will be replaced with photo backdrops.
Opening ceremonies will be held at the starting line for participants in each wave, beginning about 10 minutes prior to the start of the race. The starting line is on 10th St. SE at the intersection with 5th Ave. SE, near Hall-Perrine Cancer Center.
The race will finish at Greene Square Park in downtown Cedar Rapids where some limited post-race activities will be offered, such as a health fair, food trucks and music. There will not be a pancake breakfast this year.
For more information, visit www.especiallyforyourace.org or call the EFY race line at (319) 398-6582.
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.
