June 28, 2000

Driven to find a cure for breast cancer

BMW and Susan G. Komen Foundation join fund-raising forces to fight disease

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
       In case anyone was wondering about the swarm of BMWs cruising through town Monday, it was just another skirmish in the war against breast cancer.
      Really.
      While the connection may not be self-evident, each mile driven on the 5.6-mile circuit through Traverse City raised one dollar toward breast cancer research and education.
      For the fourth year, BMW and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation have teamed up to sponsor the Ultimate Drive, a nationwide fund-raiser that brings a fleet of 19 BMWs to more than 250 cities. In the first three years of the program, volunteer drivers have combined to drive more than three million miles, raising a corresponding $3 million for the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation.
      Locally, the goal was to raise $5,500, $500 more than last year's effort. Despite the rain, the came to drive, eat and sign the signature car, which features pictures of local heroes from all the cities participating in the Ultimate Drive.
      Margaret Pierson of Maple City came to the Ultimate Drive for the second year in a row. Last year, she was also one of the volunteers who helped transport the fleet to the next stop in Grand Rapids. The chance to have fun while helping a good cause brought her back this year, both for the drive in Traverse City and the trek to Grand Rapids.
      "We've got a friend out in Maple City who is really struggling with breast cancer," said Pierson, a music teacher with Traverse City Area Public Schools. "This is a really neat idea; of course, it's a wonderful promotion for BMW, but its also a great way for people to have fun and help others."
      The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is the largest fund-raiser for breast cancer research in the United States. The foundation was established in 1982 by Komen's sister, Nancy Brinker, to honor the memory of her sister who died at 36 from the disease. In addition to funding research, the foundation promotes breast cancer education, screening and treatment.
      BMW teamed up with the foundation in 1997 and today fields two teams of 19 cars that travel the country from May to November to raise money. At each stop along the way, a local hero is chosen, who can be a breast cancer survivor or a medical professional who works closely with breast cancer patients.
      "It was important to see such a well-known company as BMW come forward and do something like this," said Ruth Ann LaMott, a local co-hero from Traverse City chosen the first year of the Ultimate Drive. "It certainly does have an impact on the perception of this illness, which affects one in eight women."
      This year's local hero in Traverse City was Maureen Wolen, who was unable to attend the Ultimate Drive because of her current treatment for breast cancer. Accepting the plaque on her behalf was Julie Lober, last year's local hero.
      Lober is thrilled with the combined efforts of BMW and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Struggling with breast cancer herself for two years, Lober underwent a stem cell transplant at the time of last year's Ultimate Drive, a treatment that has been available for only five years.
      To her, the importance of research funding is apparent when looking at the drug Herceptin. A recent promising drug treatment for breast cancer, it has been on the market for just 18 months even though research on it started in 1972. Fund-raisers and donations spearheaded by Revlon helped finance that research effort, she noted.
      "This research is the only way," Lober said. "One of the things that slows it down is that there is not enough money to pay the research scientists. This provides the seed money to get research programs started."