Kickboxers Knock Out Breast Cancer

Members of ILoveKickboxing-Sandy, a cardio Kickboxing facility in Sandy UT, teamed up to fight for a cure for breast cancer on Saturday May 11, 2013. As a team, “Kickbox for a Cure,” they joined with the Susan G. Komen Foundation in the Race for the Cure, replacing their regular Saturday morning Kickboxing workout with a run to support research aiding the cure for breast cancer.

Lysa Scarano, who organized the ILoveKickboxing team for the event, said, “It’s time to be the good we all want to see in this world.”

According to the American Cancer Society, “Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.

“The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about 1 in 8. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 36. Breast cancer death rates have been going down. This is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and better treatment. Right now there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

“The American Cancer Society’s estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2013 are: About 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women. About 64,640 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be found (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer). About 39,620 deaths from breast cancer (women)” (http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/overviewguide/breast-cancer-overview-key-statistics).

The Utah affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation has been actively working to treat and find a cure for breast cancer since 1996. Their annual event, the Race for the Cure, has grown from 1,700 participants at the first race to include more than 16,000 participants at their biggest race yet. This year, more than 11,000 people participated in the Utah Race for the Cure, choosing to either walk or run the 5k race.

In this year’s race, participants were able to go to “pinking” stations throughout the race where they were sprayed with pink powder. The “Kickbox for a Cure” team loved this!

Teresa Lechtenberg, co-owner of ILoveKickboxing-Sandy, excitedly told her friends, “We got pinked!”

As a team, local Sandy Kickboxers had a blast in the Race for the Cure. After the race Lysa Scarano proudly told teammates and ILoveKickboxing-Sandy members that as team, “Kickbox for a Cure” raised a total of $900 to support the treatment of breast cancer and aid the search for a cure. They definitely made their mark.

Lysa Scarano said, “Kickboxers are some of the coolest, strongest and most dedicated people EVER, so let's share our strength and kindness and help end Breast Cancer FOREVER.”

The Susan G. Komen Foundation continues to take donations, run events, and aid research year round in the fight against breast cancer. For more information about the Susan G. Komen Foundation in Utah check out their website: http://www.komenutah.org

For more information about fitness kickboxing in Sandy check out the website: http://www.ilovekickboxingsandy.com