The Issue

Millions of dollars are raised every year in “the fight against breast cancer." Both non-profit agencies and corporations raise funds through a variety of vehicles, including walks, runs, and mountain climbs. The public is asked to support these efforts either by participating directly or by supporting their friends and acquaintances who are walking, running, or climbing.

The Follow the Money alliance is critical of these walks, runs, and mountain climbs for several reasons. Many of them are produced by private, for-profit companies charging a sizable fee, which sponsors pay out of the funds raised by participants, instead of underwriting the costs themselves. We also object to the common practice of raising money locally only to send it outside the community to already well-funded cancer centers elsewhere. We believe it makes more sense for sponsors to establish local advisory boards to determine the most effective use of the funds raised in each region.

Finally, we question why, with more than a third of the money raised from each walk going toward administrative and marketing expenses, it doesn’t make more sense for those who want to support breast cancer causes to simply donate directly to an organization they want to support, and then take a walk, a run or a mountain climb on their own, or with friends.