Susan G. Komen’s ‘Difficult Decision’: Charity Cancels 7 Breast Cancer Walks Due To 37% Drop In Participation
Susan G. Komen has been forced to cancel seven walks after coming short of raising money for its historic breast cancer charity, Reuters reported.
The organization announced that it will be canceling three-day walks in 2014 in seven major cities including Phoenix, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, and Washington.
"The difficult decision to exit these markets was not made lightly, as we know this bold and empowering event has touched the lives of thousands of participants," the charity said in a message on its Facebook page.
The walks will continue next year in Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Michigan, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle, and Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Within the past four years, enrollment and participation in the walks had dropped a staggering 37 percent. Whether lack of funding also played a part was not explained, a spokeswoman for Komen told Reuters. However, the seven major cities specifically have not reached fundraising targets.
Fundraising failures may also have to do with the organization's relationship with Planned Parenthood that has been on the mend. Last year, Susan G. Komen came under fire for cutting grants for Planned Parenthood, which provides the largest birth control and abortion services, among other women's health amenities including breast-cancer screenings.
The charity reversed its decision after several days and subsequently dropped its founder and other leaders. Since then, Susan G. Komen has been finding it hard to balance support from conservative and women's rights groups.
Participants in the three-day Susan G. Komen walks have to raise at least $2,300 and walk nearly 60 miles. The Race for The Cure, which consists of five kilometer walks and runs, is its hallmark event and draws 1.6 million in support for the cause in more than 150 locations worldwide.