RACE FOR THE CURE

Event will take place Saturday

The final preparations for Race for the Cure 2015 are under way. The event is slated to take place Saturday morning beginning at the Four States Fairgrounds.

“Preparations are going great. We’re just tying up a few loose ends and taking care of details,” said Amber Lawrence, Komen Texarkana executive director.

Organizers are hoping to see more than 5,000 participants at the event and raise more than $500,000 to fight breast cancer in this area.

“The money we raise goes to support uninsured and underinsured women in our community and the

six surrounding counties,” Lawrence said.

Money is granted to area organizations that offer free mammograms, treatment and education.

“It helps these women take the first steps to be proactive about their breast health,” Lawrence said. “These dollars save lives. If these funds were not available, some of these women wouldn’t be able to make that first appointment that many times detects their breast cancer.”

Registration for Race for the Cure is available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Central Mall through Tuesday evening. The booth is near the mall’s West Entry.

Registration is also available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Sullivan Performing Arts Center on Summerhill Road. Online registration is available at komentexarkana.org through Thursday.

The cost for early registration is $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 2 to 12 and $10 for babies up to 24 months. Registration is $35 for competitive runners.

Participants can also sign up at beginning at 7 a.m. the day of the event, but the cost goes up to $35 for adults.

“We would love for people to sign up before, because it will be easier on them, but we just want them to sign up, even if it’s the day of the race,” Lawrence said.

In addition to raising money for a good cause, Race for the Cure is a fun family event.

“It’s going to be a great celebration. We have food trucks and activities for the kids. We’ve rearranged the grounds to make it more family-friendly and we’re looking forward to a great event,” Lawrence said.

Shuttle service will be offered the morning of the event starting at 6:30 a.m. at Trinity Baptist Church, Mount Grove Baptist Church and Columbia Property Management.