Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc.

In 2005, Rally For The Cure registered its one-millionth participant in this important initiative. This year marks the ninth time that the Arizona City golfing groups have pledged their support and teed off against breast cancer. The organizers of this year's event are Jackie Warren, Barb Maxwell and Barbara Garrett.

A field of 50 players is expected for the Rally at the Arizona City Golf Course on March 7. As part of the Rally For The Cure activities, a closest-to-the-pin contest is held at a designated par-3 Rally hole. Titleist golf balls bearing the pink ribbon breast cancer awareness symbol are awarded to every player who hits the green on the first swing and a prize is given to the player whose shot lands nearest to the hole.

All players will receive important early detection information, an exclusive Rally pink ribbon golf pin, and are entitled to a one-year subscription of Golf For Women magazine. In addition to Golf For Women and Titleist , Adams Golf and Etonic Shoes continue as sponsors of the Rally program. All of the administrative costs of Rally For The Cure are covered by Golf For Women magazine.

"We are proud to be a part of this vital, cause-oriented women's golf program. Together we are helping to get the critical life-saving message of early breast cancer detection out to golfers and the members of their communities," states Susan K. Reed, Editor-in-Chief, Golf For Women magazine.

In 2006, every issue of the magazine will feature a page from Komen with important breast health information in addition to the September/October issue, which dedicates editorial pages to the cause. Since its inception in 1996, the mission of Rally For The Cure has been to emphasize the importance of early detection in the successful treatment of breast cancer; and to support the mission of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease.

According to the Komen Foundation, each year breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women ages 35-54, and the disease also accounts for more than 75% of all cancer deaths in women 55 years of age and older. In 1996, its first year of operation, 356 clubs participated in the Rally program. In 2005, more than 3,200 clubs -in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.

S. Virgin Islands, as well as Bermuda, Canada, Egypt, Germany and Mexico registered to host a Rally For The Cure event. The Rally program provides a platform for volunteer ambassadors to raise significant funds for the Komen Foundation.

Since 1996 the Foundation received more than $20 million from Rally events to support their mission. Rally For The Cure presented by Golf For Women magazine is based in Wilton, Connecticut. For further information about the Rally For The Cure golf event, visit the website: www.

rallyforthecure.com.