In celebration of the organization’s growing network – a presence in 18,000 communities in over 50 countries – and efforts to continually spread breast cancer awareness, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure will take place in the Middle East for the first time in its history. On Oct. 24, 2009, participants will run around the Pyramids of Giza to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Brinker, a former chief of protocol under President George W. Bush and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, served as U.S. ambassador to Hungary from 2001-2003 and brought her passion for breast cancer awareness with her there. Since 2002, the Bridge of Health in Hungary has been lighted pink on October 27th, and this tradition will be recreated in Egypt during the race when the pyramids will also glow pink.

The counsel of foreign diplomats, in this case Egyptian Ambassador Sameh Shoukry, has been essential for Susan G. Komen for the Cure to gain better knowledge of the countries where it is expanding. A disease cannot be eradicated until it is completely understood, and this can only occur when the availability of information, signs, and symptoms is disseminated and the most recent research and treatment options are made available. Cancer takes the lives of over 7.6 million people each year, more than all those who die from AIDS, malaria, and TB combined.