This year marks two decades of racing for a cure in Phoenix. And, beginning today, online registration for the 20th Annual Susan G. Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure taking place on Sunday, Oct. 14 in the State Capitol District is now open at www.komenphoenix.org.

This year’s theme “Together, We Promise” is a reminder to the affiliate, its partners and participants that the impact the Race can make is greatest when the community works together.

“In celebration of our 20th year, we as an affiliate are challenging ourselves to make this the best race ever,” said Heather Roberts, Race and Special Events Director. “We’re asking the community to do the same by challenging participants to ask 20 friends to join them and/or to raise an additional $20 in donations for the cause.”

Last year, more than 25,000 participants helped raise nearly $1.8 million towards education, screening and treatment for the medically underserved throughout central and northern Arizona and international research efforts. These efforts are what keep the Komen promise – to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures – alive.

“We’ve got to keep our momentum going,” said Roberts. “The Race for the Cure is the single-biggest fundraiser supporting our mission, which is critical to the uninsured and underinsured women and men throughout central and northern Arizona. Quite simply, any reduction in participation or funds raised will result in a reduction of services provided through our community grants.”

With donations 100 percent committed to the promise, a full 75 percent of all funds raised stay in the community and 25 percent goes to support international research into the causes and cures for breast cancer. Since its inception, Komen Phoenix has granted more than $17 million to support life saving breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs and $5 million to international research efforts.

Key to the Affiliate’s fundraising efforts is sponsor support, which allows Komen’s dollars to go even farther. Komen Phoenix is ever grateful to welcome back Fry’s Food Stores as its VIP Partner for the 2012 Race. This will mark the eighth year in a row that Fry’s has participated as VIP Partner, contributing more than $1.7 million in cash and in-kind contributions through the years.

For more information on the 20th Annual Susan G. Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure and to register both individually or as a team, please visit www.komenphoenix.org.