Disaster! Komen Loses Nearly Half Its Walkers Following Last Year’s Planned Parenthood Scandal

Year after year, St. Louis holds the largest Komen Race for the Cure in the country.

This year the number of participants is down to 40,000 from 70,000 following last year’s scandal. Evidently, the insistence by Komen to fund Planned Parenthood is having a tremendous effect on race numbers this year.
KMOX reported:

Saturday’s annual Komen Race for the Cure is the first one to be held following Komen’s controversial decision to withdraw funding for breast exams from Planned Parenthod.

Even though the decision was quickly reversed, it was clear damage had been done to Komen’s reputation as many former supporters remained angry about the whole ordeal.

So far this year, Komen’s St. Louis chapter claims to have the second largest registration to this point, around 44,000 – trailing only Rome Italy’s 50,000 or so.

But even this highly supportive city has seen a drop in numbers.

It’s something that Helen Chesnut, executive director of the St. Louis affiliate, says they have to move past while remaining focused on their goal of raising money for breast cancer research.

“No matter what is happening in the outside world we stay concentrated on our mission,” Chesnut tells KMOX News. “The only losers in any kind of controversy are usually those who need the help the most, and that’s the reason why we can’t be distracted.”

Two years ago St. Louis participation in the annual event hit a record of more than 71,000.

Three days before Saturday’s 14th annual race, around 44,000 have signed up to take part.

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#2 June 20, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Brae commented:

I am one that they lost. I believe in giving to promote a cure for cancer, but not for abortion and now, sex gender preference abortion.
#3 June 20, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Jaimo commented:

Or, maybe those 30,000 people were angry that Komen funded anything associated with Planned Parenthood at all, and after being informed they decided to spend their charity money elsewhere. I know I did.
#4 June 20, 2012 at 2:49 pm
TeachX3 commented:

Yes, it’s about time more people pay attention and take a stand!
#5 June 20, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Libtards lie commented:

My wife and I have been strong supporters of Komen (as she just finished a 2 year bout with breast cancer) in the past, but will no longer support this organization. They no longer will receive any financial support from us, and in fact, we are letting everyone know what they are up too. No longer will the public be silenced by the “regressives” on the left. We believe it’s time for an alternative to Komen and I beleive this shows why. There are too many people that are tired of this kind of crap. PP is nothing but an abortion mill and in reality, give nothing back but death to the community. If your a woman, you should be OUTRAGED as PP’s plan of gender based abortions.
#6 June 20, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Chris W. commented:

“Saturday’s annual Komen Race for the Cure is the first one to be held following Komen’s controversial decision to withdraw funding for breast exams from Planned Parenthod.

Even though the decision was quickly reversed, it was clear damage had been done to Komen’s reputation as many former supporters remained angry about the whole ordeal.”

Clueless mainstream media as usual. This article attempts to spin the 40% drop in participation because Komen dropped PP, when in reality it was the reversal and the decision to keep funding PP that caused Komen’s participation drop-off.

But nice try anyway, old media.
#7 June 20, 2012 at 2:50 pm
Mekan commented:

I thought studies show a clear link between abortion and breast cancer?? So why support the stupid group?

Did you know that abortion is 99% fatal for the child, and if Obama had his way the 1% that escape would be clubbed like a baby seal.
#8 June 20, 2012 at 2:52 pm
bg commented:

++

there is a God, and we are the people, Amen..

==
#9 June 20, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Jim commented:

I for one, was unaware that they supported PP. (shame on me). When I found out that they were resupporting them – I stopped…

I love how they attempt to spin this…
#10 June 20, 2012 at 2:57 pm
disgusted commented:

When we heard that Komen had knuckled under to the pressure and would continue to fund planned parenthood’s abortion mill, we decided not to participate in the race anymore. That’s 6 less women racing from my family!!
#11 June 20, 2012 at 3:10 pm
MikeSilver commented:

According to my mom, Komen was offering half price entries in Lexington KY. She’s all for finding a cure for breast cancer but she is against killing children.
#12 June 20, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Jayne on Left Coast commented:

How much money actually goes to finding a cure? With all the money they have raised still no cure in sight.
#13 June 20, 2012 at 3:20 pm
tommy mc donnell commented:

i won’t give any money to komen. you give money to find a cure and they use it to fund abortions. no thanks.
#14 June 20, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Taxpayer commented:

I think the Komen foundation is an effective, well-meaning organization. They screwed up big-time with the Planned Parenthood thing.

But I have another gripe about Komen and breast cancer. It’s become such a huge marketing behemoth that it’s sucked both attention and monies from other cancers. Their influence and funding opportunities are so enormous that researchers naturally go where the money is.

Meanwhile, other cancers suffer from a lack of attention from researchers and the public. Did you know the rate of esophageal cancer in the US has gone up over 600% since 1975? And we don’t know why? And it has an 18% survival rate? And it has few if any symptoms? And the only surgical technique is extremely deadly?

Our society has lost some valuable contributors to this disease: author Christopher Hitchens, Ann Richards (governor of Texas), actor Ron Silver, attorney Robert Kardashian, actor Humphrey Bogart, US Congressman Tom Lantos, actress Jean Hagen, MLB players Hal Keller and Bruce Del Canton, historian Milton Metzler.

Actor Richard Dawson died a mere 3 WEEKS after his diagnosis. He thought he had heartburn.

And lots of non-famous people have died of esophageal cancer…including my dad.

Advances in breast cancer treatment, and the accompanying rise in survival, have been amazing. But there have been next to ZERO advances in treatment or survival from esophageal cancer.

So maybe this is a blessing in disguise for those who suffer from other kinds of cancer. Let’s not just focus on the most common or the most “popular” cancers which have cute slogans (“save the tatas,” etc.). Let’s go after ALL cancer.
#15 June 20, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Seth commented:

They’re reaping what they have sown.

Presented as a worthy cause, but a mask for a much less worthy cause, and the diversion of funds generated for one cause to another.

Moreover, the power struggle over funding PP showed everyone who is really in the driver’s seat, and it ain’t KOMAN or its cause.

So, KOMEN, it turns out, is just another species of the “its for the children” justification i.e. things that just sound so good, causes that seem so noble and right that you need not question anything, but just “give ’til it hurts.”

We quit donating to quite a number of supposed “charities” after seeing investigations that determined that many officers in these charities often got lavish, six figure salary and benefit packages, that the best of the donated items were often skimmed off by the charity’s staff or simply trashed–clothing, for instance, that was supposed to be cleaned/repaired and keeping people warm just routinely bailed and pulped–with the charity getting the cash.

Bottom line, a very small percentage, if any, of the money or items donated to many so called “charities” ever reached their supposed poor/needy recipients.

So. tell me, how much of the money raised by KOMAN to “fight breast cancer,” actually went into research and treatments to “fight breast cancer,” and how much wound up in the pockets of PP and paid for PP salaries, expenses, and abortions?
#16 June 20, 2012 at 4:31 pm
dba...vagabond trader commented:

Lousy phonies. They are well aware of the correlation between breast cancer, abortion and birth control pills.
#17 June 20, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Taqiyyotomist commented:

#15 Seth

Hey, look! My Cynicism just went up three whole points with that one comment!

Another twelve points and I get a level!

(My Sarcasm is pretty much maxed.)
#18 June 20, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Dave commented:

PP co-opted Komen to try to give itself more legitimacy and help make it appear more “likeable”.

At first I applauded Komen for their ending relationship, only to then be completely dismayed at their policy reversal after the radical leftists threw their hissy-fit.

No more support from us, and I don’t think I see anything changing, less the downfall of Komen altogether.

Hope a new organization will fill it’s shoes and stay away from PP!

Spin away mainstream media. Maybe you can selectively edit somebody’s speech or dialog and effect the socialist change you desire…

It’s an honorable and important fight, but not in league with baby killers!
#19 June 20, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Mary commented:

I’ve bailed on them too. As a 2x cancer survivor I’d be pleased if other other cancer research groups reaped some benefit, but I fear people are getting cynical (can’t blame them) about ‘organizations’ and how the money is allocated.. I wondered if something was up with the STL ‘race’ since by now, in years past, they would be pushing for the last few thousand entrants to beat Denver, or whomever…bet they will lower entry fees all over the country. Sadly, they will chaulk it up to a bad economy and not their ties to PP, etc.
Trivia (not trivial) question: Pink is the ‘color’ for breast cancer. What ‘color’ represents ovarian cancer?
#20 June 20, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Flintstone F. commented:

Chris W. #6

Great catch. I thought I confused the sides of the issue as I read that and chalked it up to a skimming error on my part.

Vital information once again being manipulated by the commie media.