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FAQ

Komen SF Race for the Cure FAQs

How may I register for the Race?
Online registration will open in May of 2012.

How will I get my Race t-shirt?

Race t-shirts are picked up on Race Day by showing your bib at the t-shirt booth in the Expo beginning at 7:30am.  T-shirts are ordered months in advance and are by necessity distributed on a first come, first served basis. To ensure you receive one, please arrive on Race Day early.  If you register the week before the Race at Four Embarcadero Center or the day before the Race at Sports Basement in SOMA/Four Embarcadero, you will receive your shirt upon registering or can get a jump on the crowds by bringing your bib and picking-up your t-shirt at either location.

What is the Sleep In for the Cure?

This is a registration type for people who want to support the cause but cannot physically be at the race. We will mail a t-shirt to these "participants" after the race. These participants can also collect contributions for valuable prizes through their online fundraising page or by using a hardcopy form which can be downloaded and mailed in (must be postmarked by November 1, 2011).

What is the date and time of the Race?

The Race will be held Sunday, September 25, 2011.
The Race will start on the Embarcadero by the Ferry Building
Race Day Registration will be open from 7:30am-8:30am.
The 5K Run begins at 9am. The 5K Walk and 1 Mile Fun Walk begin at 9:15am.
The Expo will take place immediately following the Race in Justin Herman Plaza.

What does "Official Chip Timed Run" mean?

If you register as an Official Chip Timed Participant for the 5K event, you will receive a timing chip to attach to your shoe. The chip will track your official finish time by our timing company and your race results will be recorded. Check our website after the Race for the results.

How do I get to Justin Herman Plaza (Race Expo) and where can I park?

Please visit the   Directions and Parking page, under our Race Information section.

Can I bring my dog?

Pets are prohibited from participating in this event, please do not bring animals to participate in the Race.

Where can I leave my personal items while I participate in the Race?

You may leave your personal items in safety at the "Sweats Check" tent in Justin Herman Plaza (Race Expo). This tent will be guarded by Race volunteer staff for the duration of the event.

Can I push a stroller?

Yes. Anyone pushing a stroller is encouraged to line up in the rear of the crowd in the starting area to avoid running into other participants.

Can I participate with inline skates?

For the safety of all participants, inline skates will not be allowed. Thank you for your cooperation.

What if it rains the day of the Race?

The event will occur rain or shine. We do reserve the right to cancel in extreme circumstances. In that event, there will be no refunds, rather, your entry fee will be used as a donation to the Komen San Francisco Race for the Cure®.

Is the course certified?

Yes. Course certification number: CA06016TK

Can I get a course map?

Click here for the San Francisco Race course map.

Fundraising

Do I need to pay to participate in the Race if I collect donations or contributions?

Registration fees help ensure that we can pay for the expense of putting on the Race. Please urge your friends, co-workers, family members and anyone you see without a bib on Race Day to register, as it will help keep our registration fees from increasing in the future. And it helps us give more of the funds we raise to breast cancer programs in our local community and towards funding research to find a cure.

I already Registered for the Race, so why should I fundraise?

The registration fee helps ensure that we will have the funds necessary to put the event on. Fundraising contributions are 100% tax deductible and go directly to providing breast cancer screening, education, support services and research.

What are the prizes for collecting donations or contributions?

There are great prizes, provided by Sports Basement, for each of the fundraising levels below. It is only one prize per participant.  The 2011 Prizes will be announced soon!
$5000 and up     - $200 Sports Basement Gift Card
$2500 to $4999  - $100 Sports Basement Gift Card
$1000 to $2499  - $15 Sports Basement Gift Card; Komen gift
$500 to $999     - Komen gift
$350 to $499     - Sports Basement gift of waterbottle, chapstick and t-shirt

When and how will I get my fundraising prize?

Instructions on how to obtain your prize will be mailed after the fundraising deadline, November 1, 2011.

What is Susan's Garden?

Donations made to Susan’s Garden are in honor or in memory of friends and loved ones whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. For a minimum donation of $10 per name, each name will be prominently displayed at the Survivors Booth on Race Day. Susan's Garden donations can be made online,   Click here .

How should checks be made out?

Komen SF Race for the Cure

How should I turn in my collected donations or contributions?

By mail postmarked by November 1, 2011. Please be sure to include a Fundraising Form so that you get credit for collecting the contributions.

Komen SF Race for the Cure®
26 O'Farrell Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94108

In-person on Race Day:
At the Pledges Tent (at theIn Person Registration Area) near Justin Herman Plaza
From 7:30am to 8:30am.

I want to enter donations (checks or cash) that I received from supporters into my personal on-line Race fundraising page, why can't I do that?

This type of donation is referred to as an "off-line" Race donation and will need to be manually entered into our Race database by our staff. Donations will not show on your personal page or your fundraising thermometer until they are received by our office and then manually uploaded.    

I chose to make my Personal Fundraising Page "Private." What does this mean?

When you choose to make your Personal Fundraising Page "Private" (in your participant center, under "edit personal page," ->URL settings-> select "private"), donors who want to make a donation to your page will have to know the EXACT URL of your personal fundraising page. If you do not send them the link to your Fundraising Page, you will not show up as a participant who they can donate to, and your personal fundraising page will not be viewable by anyone who does not have that specific link.

Are the contributions tax deductible?

Yes, 100% of the contributions are tax deductible. The San Francisco Bay Area Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is a 501c3 non-profit (tax ID #94-3047626). The tax credit can only be taken by the person writing the check or the holder of the credit card. The person collecting the contributions, the Race participant or Fundraiser, may not claim those contributions as a tax deduction.

What can I do if I need help with my fundraising?

We have sample letters that can be e-mailed or handed out and a list of fundraising ideas for you to use to take your fundraising to the next level! If you have questions about how to fundraise or where to find more information, please email raceinfo@komensf.org.

Teams

How do I join a team?

"Join a team" when you register at any of our in-person registration locations.

How do I change the team I am on?

If you need to change teams, please email your request to raceinfo@komensf.org and include your name, the name of the team you are currently a member and the team you would like to join.

How may we change our designated Team Captain?

Email your request to raceinfo@komensf.org and include the name of the previous Team Captain and the name of the new Captain. Both individuals must be registered for the Race.

Can there be more than one Team Captain?

Only one person can be designated as the Team Captain on-line (in order to receive emails and information from Komen SF), but your team may designate more Team Captains yourselves if you would like.

How do we qualify for a team table and how do we reserve it?

A team must have 20 registered members (including the Team Captain) to be an official Race team. If your team has 20 or more members, you may request a team table in the "Teams Area" on Race Day. Team tables on Race Day must be reserved no later than September 6, 2011 by emailing teaminfo@komensf.org with your team name, the number of members. Please write "Team Table RSVP" in the subject line.

How do we win a team prize?

Teams of 10 or more registered participants will automatically be registered as competitive and can win prizes in the following categories:

Fastest Team- A minimum of five team members must register for the Official Chip-timed 5K category to qualify for this team competition. First and Second place plaques will be awarded.
Highest Fundraising Team - All donations must be received by November 1, 2011. First and Second place plaques will be awarded.
Largest Team - An overall first place plaque will be awarded. In addition, each team must enter one of the following sub-divisions and first place sub-division plaques will also be awarded: Corporate/Government, Small Business, Family & Friends, Schools/Education

Survivor Program

What is the Survivor Tribute Ceremony?

One of the most meaningful moments on Race Day, the Survivor Tribute Ceremony will take place after the Race in Justin Herman Plaza. Breast cancer survivors who wish to be recognized may take part along with a Co-Survivor (someone they'd like to recognize as a supporter) if they choose. Also, breast cancer Survivors (who indicate they wish to be recognized as Survivors upon registering) should be sure to pick up their complimentary pink T-shirt and hat from the Survivor Booth on Race Day.

How do I get an official Survivor pink T-shirt and hat?

All registrants who designate themselves as survivors upon registering are eligible to receive a pink Race T-shirt and hat from the Survivor Booth on Race Day (while supplies last) by displaying their pink bibs. We recommend that Survivors pick up their T-shirts and hats before the Start of the Race, as the quantity of T-shirts and hats available is based on the number of Survivors who registered the previous year. Race T-shirts are ordered months before Race Day.

Where can I get back signs "in honor" or "in memory" of someone?

Back Signs will be available before the Race at the Survivor Tent in Justin Herman Plaza on Race Day.

When does the Survivor Tribute Ceremony take place?

10:30am at the stage in Justin Herman Plaza. All Survivors should gather at the Survivor Booth at 10:15am.

The Survivor Tribute Ceremony is a special part of Race Day. Survivors gather at the Survivor Booth, before receiving roses and walking through a "Human Tunnel" of supporters toward the stage area. Once gathered at the stage area, the inspirational ceremony will take place.

How else can I honor loved ones who have battled breast cancer?

We would like to invite participants to recognize those special people who have been touched by breast cancer. "In Memory Of" and "In Celebration Of" placards will be available the day of the Race at the Survivor Booth in the Expo area.
Another way to honor a loved one who has battled or is battling breast cancer is by making a Susan's Garden donation in their name. Susan's Garden donations must be a minimum of $10 per name and an In Honor of or In Memory of placard will be placed in Susan's Garden on Race Day displaying the individual's name. Click here to make a donation and add a name to Susan's Garden.

Volunteers

How do I sign up to volunteer?

You may  download a form and mail, fax or email it in (instructions are on the form).

Where do volunteers check in on Race Day?

At the Volunteer Booth in Justin Herman Plaza.

Post Race Activities & Other Information

Where can I find pink ribbon merchandise?

Merchandise will be sold at the Komen Korner booth in the Expo area in Justin Herman Plaza on Race Day.

What is "I am the Cure"

Susan G. Komen introduced "I Am The Cure" in 2007. It is an educational message "I am the Cure", encouraging women to take an active role in their breast health and understand that being aware is the first step in that process. On Race Day you will hear cure leaders yelling out the messages throughout the race course.

What is there to do after the race?

Grab some water and post-Race snacks at the Safeway Food Court, then walk through the Expo in Justin Herman Plaza to visit our Sponsor's booths and collect samples!
At 10:30am the Survivor Tribute Ceremony will begin at the Stage (Survivors should meet at Susan's Garden next to the Survivor Tent prior to 10:30am).
At 10:45am the Awards Ceremony will take place on the Stage.
And don't forget to visit Komen Corner for Merchandise! Its a great time to think ahead and get special gifts for loved ones...all supporting Komen SF!

When is the Awards Ceremony?

The Awards Ceremony will take place at 10:45am on the Stage in the Expo Area in Justin Herman Plaza.