EDSers Support Susan G. Komen for the Cure at North Texas, National Races
30 Jul 2007
The Susan G. Komen North Texas Race for the Cure has broken another record after thousands of walkers and runners converged on EDS' global headquarters in Plano, Texas.
As donations to fight breast cancer continued to pour in following the Komen North Texas Race, the June 2 fund-raiser shattered the $1 million mark. The event, held for the first time entirely on and around EDS' headquarters campus, attracted 12,000 or more participants.
On the same day, dozens of employees and family members teamed up at the nation's capital as the EDS Eagles for another in the world's largest series of 5K runs and fitness walks.
The Komen National Race for the Cure in Washington, D.C., raised almost $4 million for breast cancer research, screening and treatment in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. EDSers are preparing for other races, including Germany and Italy later this year.
On June 16, almost 300 EDSers ran and walked in the Detroit Komen race. Team EDS Detroit received a “Grow Getters” award for increasing its ranks by the greatest percentage since last year.
While jogging in the last half of the Komen North Texas 5K, Teri Konowitz reflected on growth of the 17th annual race. That progress includes EDS' strong participation as local presenting sponsor for the last three years, said the 15-year North Texas Komen veteran.
“EDS has made it so very easy to participate: Team EDS’ online registration, packet pickup, a pancake breakfast and more,” said Konowitz of Applications Service Delivery Consulting Services and Business Management. “So many people have been personally touched by breast cancer – themselves, family members or friends. It's an honor to work for a company that cares so much about such a devastating disease.”
The 2006 Komen North Texas Race raised $830,000 and attracted more than 12,500 participants. EDS was again recognized this year for having the largest corporate team, with close to 1,100 members, and raising the most money for the North Texas affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Forty-two EDSers and family members participated in the Komen National Race. EDS held its 7th Annual Duck Race for the Cure fund-raiser on May 17 at the company's Herndon, Va., administration building.
Employees purchased plastic ducks to race for prizes. Silent and live auctions were held to raise money in support of the Komen foundation. This year, more than $24,000 was contributed, for a total of more than $95,000 raised by EDS employees in the past seven years through the annual event.
Tina Sivinski, EDS senior executive vice president and chief administrative officer, officially started the Komen North Texas 5K. It took more than 11 minutes for participants to cross the starting line.
Colleen Campbell, 2007 race chairperson, and other officials thanked EDS for hosting the race on its campus. “This is such a great crowd and the weather held out for us,” Campbell said.
Organizers had battled heavy rains the previous week, including an early-morning storm that scattered some equipment and drenched the EDS grounds hours beforehand.
“We're all beaming about how well the race went,” said Jill Tillery, one of three co-EDS race project managers with Patty Mendez and Kirsten Abney.
Shobha Patel, a two-year survivor in the 5K for the first time, was accompanied by husband C.R. and friends Vibha Parikh and Archana Patel.
“This is very emotional for me,” said Shobha Patel, a project manager for EDS Internal Systems.
Hundreds of other breast cancer survivors, wearing pink T-shirts and surrounded by pink balloons and pompoms, were cheered by family members, friends and supporters as they paraded to the awards stage after the race.
The “sisters in pink,” a group of 37 local EDS breast cancer survivors, were recognized. The women send care packages anonymously to other employees who have recently received breast cancer diagnoses, accompanying them to chemotherapy treatments and sharing insights from their own experiences.
“We do what we can to help,” said John Engstrom. His wife DonaLeigh, a four-year survivor, and Team EDS Co-captain Julie Watkins accepted awards for the largest corporate team and the most money raised for the event.