For student-athletes and athletics administrators at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, efforts to fight breast cancer have become a family matter.

In September, about 80 members of the athletics department turned out to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Chattanooga, Tennessee. That level of commitment was especially appreciated by Chattanooga's senior woman administrator, Laura Mincy, whose father has fought and overcome breast cancer.

That's right, her father. Mincy points out that breast cancer can and does affect men every year.

"Breast cancer in males is rare, but the numbers of diagnosed cases are growing every year. This is a health issue, not just a women's health issue," she said. "No one is immune to breast cancer, and we need to get the word out. I'm very proud that we had such great representation from our student-athletes."

Mincy's father, Gene Herron, was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago. After undergoing a mastectomy and then chemotherapy for several months, Herron beat the cancer and has been cancer-free since. Because of that personal battle, it meant a lot to Mincy that the Chattanooga Mocs went into the community and made the Race for the Cure a priority.

"I appreciate our student-athletes for embracing such a worthwhile cause and taking time from their busy schedules to promote the Race for the Cure," Mincy said.

Members of Chattanooga's women's basketball and softball teams ran in the event, while members of the men's and women's track and cross country teams served as volunteers during the race. The men's basketball and wrestling teams provided moral support, lining the route of the five-kilometer race and cheering on the runners. Six Chattanooga coaches also participated.

"It was an awesome experience to run in the race with thousands of people rooting for the same cause," said Grace Pickett, a sophomore softball student-athlete at Chattanooga.

"It's an opportunity for us as student-athletes to do our part and help the community when we can," said Tim Parker, a senior men's basketball student-athlete.

The Komen Race for the Cure Series is the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world. In 2002, races will be held in more than 100 U.S cities and three foreign countries with more than 1.3 million participants expected.

This year's event in Chattanooga featured 5,468 participants, 51 vendors and 470 volunteers. The Chattanooga event likely will raise $250,000 to $300,000, bringing the two-year total for that race to about $700,000.

Proceeds from all the races in the series help fund important breast cancer research as well as breast health initiatives on a local level. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds raised in each race remain in the community where the race is held.

"It's great that we can get out in the community and support such a worthy cause," said Jennifer Wilson, a senior women's basketball student-athlete. "Being involved in an event like the Race for the Cure is an opportunity for us to give back just a small portion of what the community has given to us. We could all benefit from the progress made in cancer research."

To find out more about the many projects and educational initiatives of the Susan G. Komen Foundation or to find a Race for the Cure near you, see the Web site at www.
komen.org.