Connect the dots on Komen controversy

After reading in the Chicago Tribune recently and the Daily Herald almost identical articles concerning the reason why the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has cut half of its three day charity races, I would like to offer another reason why this has occurred.

Both papers stated that the decline in participation had to do with the backlash Komen felt after news became public that it would cut its funding to Planned Parenthood for breast screenings. It went on to say that even though the funding was restored to that organization, it didn’t “quell the controversy.”

First, many of us who have participated in and given donations to Komen had no idea that some of those funds were diverted to an extremely controversial organization. Planned Parenthood does indeed provide information about breast health and digital screening as do many other health organizations. It does not perform mammograms, the gold standard in detecting breast cancer. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that there is a link between abortions and breast cancer (See articles by Dr. Joel Brind.)

It isn’t rocket science to question the rationale behind Komen giving grants to Planned Parenthood, an organization that is responsible for thousands of abortions annually.

Finally, on a personal note, my golf club in Florida has always participated in Komen’s Rally for the Cure. Last year was the first year that we abandoned Komen and gave the proceeds of our outing to a local cancer charity for precisely the reasons I have already stated. I can’t imagine that we were the only ones to connect the dots. Perhaps you might consider this explanation also.

Marianne Gebhardt

Bloomingdale