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TUCSON - We continue our partnership with the local Susan G. Komen chapter with a look at where the donations go, and how they use the money to save thousands of lives.

The interesting thing about Southern Arizona is that more money is kept local because of the cancer research at the University of Arizona. Typically 75 cents of every dollar stays in the community where it was brought in, but here we keep around 84 cents of every dollar and it gets stretched to cover 6 counties.

The money is brought in with various fundraisers. Of course, the annual Race for the Cure is their biggest money-maker followed by the upcoming El Tour de Tucson.

They also have organizations and groups all over the area who hold rallies and private fundraisers for the foundation, and they in turn use that money for education, prevention, and treatment support for women and men in Southern Arizona.

"We're actually more active than ever, because the need is greater than ever for people to have discounted and donated services when they're under-insured, they've fallen off of AHCCCS, or they find themselves in the crisis that's well beyond what they've planned with their private insurance copays," Executive Director Jaimie Leopold said.

Another event coming up that is affiliated with the local Susan G. Komen foundation is coming up on October 22nd. ¡VIDA! The Sixth Annual Mujer Latina Breast Cancer Conference

· Saturday, Oct. 22, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
· El Pueblo Senior Center, 101 W. Irvington Rd.
· Free admission, complimentary breakfast and lunch
· Advanced registration suggested: Please call (520) 626-0331 or email avalencia@azcc.arizona.edu