The Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure, an event held every year to raise money to cure breast cancer, will be held in Washington this weekend. Federal employees and congressional staffers who will participate in the 5K race are already breaking their participation records: The Komen foundation said today that federal agencies have so far registered 68 race teams — more than agencies ever have in the past — and U.S. embassies also have registered a record 50 teams.
Congressional offices have so far registered 31 teams, and the Komen foundation expects to register another 3 teams by Saturday, which would break their record.
Among the federal agency teams is one with Cabinet-level participants and spouses: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and his wife Kathy; Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag; Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack;Â and Karen Duncan, wife of Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
More than 1.3 million women around the world are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, according to the Komen foundation. The Komen foundation expects more than 50,000 people to participate in Saturday’s race in Washington, and said 1.5 million people around the world participate in other Komen-sponsored events every year.