Annual Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition Fundraiser Now Reaches Out to Walkers Too!; Dates Set for 'Against the Tide' Swim & Walk.

Sports Editors/Feature Editors/Business Editors/Health/Medical

Writers

RANDOLPH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2003

Dates and venues for the 2003 Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition Against the Tide one-mile swim and three-mile walk are as follows:

Boston Metro 

June 21 Hopkinton State Park - Hopkinton Reservoir,

Upper beach

Off Route 85 at park entrance

Hopkinton, MA 01748

Check in 7:30 a.m., swim at 9 a.m., walk at 10 a.m.

Cape Cod 

August 16 Nickerson State Park - Flax Pond, public beach

Off Route 6A at park entrance

Brewster, MA 02631

Check in 7:30 a.m., swim at 9 a.m., walk at 10 a.m.

Against the Tide events are fundraising events dedicated to the fight against breast cancer and are specifically designed to provide support and inspiration to individuals and families touched by this disease. The money raised from Against the Tide is used to find the real causes of breast cancer and seek real prevention of the disease. Each event includes a competitive swim at 9 a.m. for swimmers who can complete the one-mile course in 30 minutes or less, a fitness/recreational swim at 9:30 a.m. and a three-mile fitness walk at 10 a.m. Participants can register for one or both events by calling [phone] for an entry form. On-line registration is available at www.mbcc.org/swim.

Participants must raise a minimum of $100 in contributions for the benefit of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition for each event they participate in and should register by June 15 for the Hopkinton event and August 3 for the Brewster event. Registration materials include tips for preparing for an open water swim or a safe walking experience, a sample fundraising letter for soliciting donations and a list of fundraising ideas to help participants increase their effectiveness in raising funds.

"Funds raised by the Against the Tide swims and walks are crucial to helping to save women's lives," said Deborah Forter, Executive Director of MBCC. "This year in Massachusetts alone, 4,700 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 900 will die from it. The fight to eradicate this disease is not over."

Karen Smyers, World Champion Triathlete and Lincoln, MA resident added, "As a cancer survivor and a frequent participant in the Against the Tide events, I know first hand how inspiring and fun these events are for everyone who participates and how empowering our involvement is for each of us affected by this horrible disease."

Carolyn Witt of Orleans, MA, who is participating in the fitness walk at Nickerson State Park in honor of her friend, Judy Grogin Prescott, who died of breast cancer also added, "The new three-mile fitness walk component should help attract additional participants this year and enable us to reach out to even more affected Massachusetts women and their families."

The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition is a nonprofit organization committed to stopping the breast cancer epidemic in Massachusetts through activism, advocacy, research and education. Founded in 1991, the MBCC's focus is on finding the causes of breast cancer and seeking real prevention of this devastating disease. For more information call [phone] or visit www.mbcc.org. Donations may be sent to Against the Tide/MBCC, 51 Diauto Drive, Suite B, Randolph, MA 02368. Against the Tide is a trademark of Vetrano Communications.