Local roots.
The mission of the Especially for You® Race Against Breast Cancer is to raise funds for individuals unable to afford breast cancer screenings and other support services and to educate individuals on the importance of early detection.
The Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer was founded by Mercy Medical Center and General Mills, and is dedicated to the memory of Sandy Knight, a brave and caring woman who lost her fight against breast cancer in July 1991.
Sandy was a General Mills employee and a charter member of the Especially for You Support Group. It was her wish that a fund be established to cover the cost of mammograms for disadvantaged women. Sandy also was instrumental in generating a very successful screening program at the General Mills plant in Cedar Rapids.
Breast cancer is most treatable and curable when detected in its earliest stages. Even so, breast cancer claims an estimated 39,840 lives each year. This number can be reduced with early detection through clinical breast exam and mammography.
We celebrated our 20th anniversary event in October, 2010 and had a record number of participants – 15,464! In 2010, the Especially for You fund helped 605 individuals receive 831 services.
The expenses of the Especially for You Race are underwritten by corporate sponsors and contributions. All proceeds from the race are used locally to provide breast cancer screening and other support services for individuals in need.
