This is from the Rochester Breast Cancer Coalition Mothers’ Day walk. As far as I can tell, they’re independent and don’t have anything to do with Komen. This is from roughly the middle of the walk as it turned around to head back to the starting gate. There was also a run with at least a thousand women in it. It has to be one of the biggest fundraising initiatives I’ve ever attended.
This is the kind of dedication and enthusiasm in other cities that Nancy Brinker and Karen Handel treated with offhand, casual and crude disdain when they decided to politicize the Komen Foundation. I can’t believe the Brinker family is still in charge of that organization.
rammalamadingdong
Sac Bee said registration for Komen walk was down from 25,000 to 14,000. About 18,000 walked
schrodinger's cat
Yeah but why are they in that horrid pink color? I mean whose idea was it to associate breast cancer with that hideous bubble gum/ pepto bismol pink?
Halcyan
and Komen tried to copyright PINK.
Lynnia
Drove past the walk here today — saw lots of shirts emphasizing “local affiliate” as well as a few pink shirts that said “We love Planned Parenthood.” I think the damage will last a while.
cathyx
I actually participated in a fund raiser for a Race for the Cure relay team. I couldn’t say no without having people think ill of me and I just didn’t want to go there. It’s still ultimately for a good cause, and that’s where I’m leaving it.
A Humble Lurker
They were thinking they could get away with it.
They were wrong…:)
Kane
Komen needed us more than we needed them. I’m glad to see that independent groups are forming and taking ownership of the cause.
Villago Delenda Est
@A Humble Lurker:
Yup, this.
MattF
I think Komen & Co taught quite a few people how to organize, and then taught these same people how you can be betrayed politically. Useful lessons. I wouldn’t be surprised if twenty years from now we have a crop of politicians who got started with breast cancer activism.
Emdee
I honestly don’t know why you’re surprised by Brinker still being in charge because she started it. It’s her organization. Susan G. Komen was her sister. She picked the board members who would have to replace her. It’s like asking why Cole is still in charge at Balloon Juice after…well, pick whatever insulted you.
(I think Komen has a better chance of survival and doing good again if Brinker and all her friends walk away, but I’m in no way surprised that she’s still there.)
Corner Stone
@Emdee:
God. Where to freakin’ start?
Paula68154
My father told me, how ppl treat waiters, cashiers, retail workers, and the like refects their character. Everyone should be treated with kindness and respect. He grew up very poor and became upper middle class, so he always treated waiters, cashiers, etc, well.
I worked at Chilis when I was 19, the one near Normn Brinker’s home in Plano, Tx. When Norman came in, everyone wanted to wait on him. He was incredibly nice. He’d great you with a hug and a big smile. But when Nancy came in with him, virtually no one wanted to wait on them. I learned why one day when they were sat in my station. She treated me like I was, hmm, like a non-person. She wasnt mean, just cold. I felt like I was her servant. Every time I see her on tv, I’m reminded of that.
I’ve always questioned her motives, still do to this day.
I’ve never given to Komen, I give to other organizations that help ppl battling cancer, just not hers.
Belafon (formerly anonevent)
OT: Funny marriage pic.
Schlemizel
word here in MN is participation is down 25% this year. Honestly I would be surprised if it was worse than that. What \these “local affiliates” are going to have to do is show how little they give to maintain the national org & how much they do give to actual cancer research/prevention/support.
Schlemizel
@Schlemizel:
Meant to say worse than that – I think 25% is the low end & reality is they are off more than that
Bubblegum Tate
@Kane:
Yes, this.
Petrilli
Which Rochester? There are several.
Julia Grey
New York.
sharl
@Petrilli: If I’m remembering accurately, from mm’s prior postings, it’s the one in western New York state.
Watusie
There is a lot of good money to be trousered in sitting on top of a huge non-profit – the Brinkers aren’t going anywhere.
bootsy
I have heard rumblings and rumors in the right-wing “non-profit” industry (read: the opposite of actual ‘charity’) that the Brinkers are shopping around for an astro-turf movement to help them appear to have grass-roots support. Don’t be surprised if you see something like that; and be sure to call it out when you do.
Waynski
My town (Atlantic Highlands)and surrounding towns here in Monmouth County, NJ are all alight in pink (even dressed up the dogs in pink for a walk up our main street, which is donning a pink stripe in between the double yellow line) and from what I’m told, none of it is going to Komen.
Gex
They may as well keep the Brinkers and become the go to right wing/fundie alternative group. There are still plenty of dollars to earn in wingnut welfare. Sure there will be less money, but the right wing won’t complain about the grifting, they’ll probably be able to up it, in fact.
SamR
I was at the LA Dodgers game today, and they had a Komen group on the field for Mother’s Day, FWIW.