The Susan G. Komen for the cure, the most widely known, largest and best-funded breast cancer organization in the United States, has canceled their three-day walk in seven cities for next year.
Which cities will be affected, and which ones will continue as scheduled?
According to the organization, the Washington D.C., Phoenix, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Tampa, and San Francisco chapters will not have a race because they haven’t met their financial goals. The walks will still be held in Atlanta. Seattle, Minneapolis, San Diego, Dallas, and Detroit.
Participation in the event has gone down by 37 percent over the last four years.
“The difficult decision was not made lightly, as this bold and empowering event has touched the lives of thousands of participants,” said the agency in its press statement. “Economic uncertainty over the past four years has presented challenges for all nonprofits, and affected participation levels for the Komen 3-Day as well. Many participants have reported that enthusiasm for the series remains very high, but it is more difficult for people to donate at levels they had in the past.”
Some experts question whether the decreases in participation are due to last year’s controversy, when Susan G. Komen ceased giving grant money to Planned Parenthood, which damaged the organization’s public image, despite their later reversal of the decision.