`Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer’
 More than $75,000 Raised in Record Turn-Out
 
STRATTON MOUNTAIN, VT –   It was a day for “good friends, good exercise and a good cause,” said Linda Johnston at the finish of the sixth annual Tubbs  Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer at Stratton Mountain on Saturday.
 
“And we saw a moose,” added the Connecticut resident who was one of 456 participants who came from throughout the region to run, walk and raise a record $75,000 for  the Vermont New Hampshire Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for  the  Cure. Funds raised at the event support breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs serving communities throughout both states.  
 
Saturday’s event put Stratton in the lead for both participation and fund-raising in the five-event Romp Series started by Tubbs Snowshoes.  “This event is near and dear,” said Tubbs General Manager Kathy Murphy.  “It is for all of us.”
 
Today, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for women ages 40-59.  This year alone nearly 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with breast cancer with more than 40,000 dying from this disease, the majority of whom have no known risk factors.
 
“Here’s to the end of chemo,” said Patty Lewis of Endicott, NY, one of two breast cancer survivors on Team Petals Hope , a group that made a statement in their bright pink boas, wigs and sunglasses. “There were a lot of hills,”  she said about the course set for Saturday’s Romp.  “But it was well worth it.”
 
Laura Daniels, a trainer at the Stratton Sports Center,  agreed about the long hill adding that snowshoeing is great exercise. “You’re working hard, and you are out in the wilderness, it’s a nice combination.”
 
In addition to the 5k walk, the event featured a competitive 3k run.  Carrie Bartlett of Boston won the women’s run and Steve Keating of Chelmsford won for the men Both work for a running shoe company and were relatively new to snowshoeing. “It’s a great way to cross-train,” said Bartlett. They joined the event as part of Team Cinco de Mustachio, a group of 18 friends who raised more than $3,000 with yard sales and pub crawls.
 
Alyson Ruby of Sunderland and her Team P-Ruby took top honors again this year for  fund-raising with a total of $16,000.   Formed in honor of Alyson's mother, who passed away a two years ago, Team P-Ruby and the 2008 Romp To Stomp Out Breast Cancer  drew  friends and family from five states, including three babies.  "This is one event that gets us all together."
 
The Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer is important not only for the funds raised but also for helping raise awareness throughout the year,  said Rick Lovett, MD, of the Vermont- New Hampshire Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For more information on the local Affiliate and the Vermont New Hampshire Race for the Cure, visit www.vtnhcure.org. Up to 75 percent of the net income from each Race stays in the community to fund outreach programs.  A minimum of 25 percent of the net income funds the Susan G. Komen for the Cure award and research grant program.-

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Vermont New Hampshire Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.