Photo by Nick McCarthy, The Daily Campus

SMU YWCA sponsored the Dallas/Forth Worth closing ceremonies of the 2007 Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Three-Day.

The event, in which participants walk 60 miles over three days, raises money and awareness for research, treatment and education for breast cancer, a disease that kills over 400,000 men and women every year. Each participant of the walk raises at least $2,200 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

“This event in the metroplex is only one of 12 held around the country to raise money to support breast cancer treatment, research and education,” YWCA president Jessica Wright said.

“The event mainly entails walking – walking 60 miles over the course of three days to raise awareness and funds for a great cause. I have not yet heard the figures for the DFW walk, but last week’s walk in Tampa Bay, in which I walked with my mom and cousin, raised $5.4 million with nearly 2,000 walkers.”

The walk included an opening ceremony at Southfork Ranch in Parker. Participants walked through Plano, Richardson, Addison and Dallas, ending at the closing ceremony at SMU.

Wright says YWCA became involved when Kris Eschman, the production coordinator for the DFW three-day, contacted Debra McKnight, who advises the group through the Women’s Center.

“They are always looking for a beautiful location to hold the ceremonies, and SMU is a complete match,” she said.

YWCA became the campus sponsor and host for the event, filling out paperwork such as the Use of Campus Grounds form, meeting with Dr. Jim Caswell to get special clearance for such a huge event, coordinating meetings between the walk sponsors and Campus Planning and Plant Operations to figure out the massive logistics, fielding questions from walkers and their supporters, and inviting the SMU community to be as involved as possible, from volunteering to help with the event to cheering the walkers, crew and survivors as they took their victory walk up Bishop Boulevard.

YWCA is a worldwide women’s organization that seeks to increase women’s growth in power and leadership, empower women and eliminate racism.

“As YWCA president, it was an honor to lead our group in becoming an advocate in this way,” Wright said. “One of the missions of the YWCA is to empower women, and that includes living full and healthy lifetimes.

According to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast cancer is about 100 times more common among women than among men.