Duane Reade outlines breast cancer awareness programs

NEW YORK New York retail pharmacy chain Duane Reade hopes to raise awareness of breast cancer by selling paper Susan Komen for the Cure ribbon pinups through the month of August.

Duane Reade is a local presenting sponsor for the 2008 Komen New York City Race for the Cure, and also plans to mark the event with special pink shopping bags, the chain announced Wednesday.

The chain is selling the ribbon pinups for $1 in its 241 stores in the New York metropolitan area and has so far raised more than $90,000. It will also donate an additional $80,000 through Duane Reade’s Charitable Foundation. The money will go toward funding community-based breast health programs in the New York area and national peer-reviewed research.

“In 2008, more than 170,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,000 will die,” said Dara Richardson-Heron, chief executive officer of Komen Greater New York City. “We appreciate Duane Reade’s commitment to helping us run breast cancer out of town.”

The race will take place in New York’s Central Park Sept. 14. More information and registration for the race are available from www.komennyc.org/race.