Caterpillar pledges $2 mil. to fight breast cancer

PEORIA — The Caterpillar Foundation plans to donate $2 million to boost awareness of breast cancer in Latin America and improve treatment of the disease.

The Peoria-based company gave $1 million initially and plans to give the rest to Susan G. Komen for the Cure over the next three years.

Much of the money will be used for grants to local organizations working to expand cancer-detection programs in Monterrey, Mexico; Sao Paulo, Brazil and Panama City, Panama.

Komen CEO Nancy G. Brinker says most cancers in Latin America aren't diagnosed until the disease is advanced and hard to treat.

The Komen group is working to make people more aware of cancer and the importance of screenings to detect the disease early.