In April, Hadassah, the City of Jerusalem, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, established a strategic partnership to advance global efforts to eradicate breast cancer. Israel will host the first Susan G. Komen Israel Race for the Cure®, around the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, and a week of scholarly events which will bring together health advocates and scientists from leading breast cancer groups, including Breakthrough Breast Cancer, United Kingdom, and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
The week of events, slated for Oct. 25-29, launches the Israel Breast Cancer Collaborative partnership between Komen and non-governmental organizations in Israel to enhance advocacy, awareness, screening, and treatment of breast cancer. During this time, Komen is hosting an invitation-only think tank for leading researchers and clinicians to jump-start new thinking on approaches to early detection of breast cancer.
“Susan G. Komen’s very first international research grant went to Israel 16 years ago,” notes Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, “and we have enjoyed longstanding friendships and productive collaborations in Israel ever since.” She continues: “The new Israel Breast Cancer Collaborative takes our relationships to the next level in partnership with the city of Jerusalem, Hadassah, government leaders, advocates, and our global partners, as we work to address the critical issues in breast cancer for the women of Israel and the world.”
Since 1982, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has granted nearly two million dollars to medical and scientific institutions and health organizations in Israel, including Hadassah, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Beit Natan, and Life’s Door.
As Ambassador Brinker explains: “We’ve made tremendous progress to this point, but there is so much more to do when 1.3 million people will be diagnosed with breast cancer globally this year, and almost 500,000 will die from the disease. With the ongoing support of our friends, volunteers, partners and advocates, we are adding new urgency to our mission to end suffering from this disease, everywhere.”
Hadassah President Nancy Falchuk notes: “Breast cancer knows no boundaries, and that is how we are confronting it. The Hadassah Medical Center brings to this partnership not only a wealth of experience in cancer treatment, detection, and research, but also a tradition of ignoring tense borders to treat people on both sides of one of the world’s oldest unresolved disputes. For us, politics stops at the hospital door. In the same way, Susan G. Komen For the Cure® knows no borders in its effort to end breast cancer.”
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat will help lead the Susan G. Komen Israel Race for the Cure®. “As a runner myself,” he says, “I know the power of these events to unite people toward a common purpose. We have many different religions and nationalities in Israel, and this race brings them together in fellowship with all people who face the impacts of this terrible disease.”
