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Latin Grammy
pop star schedules Portland stop at 2005 Komen Race For The CureŽ
 PORTLAND, Ore., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Latin rock icon Soraya was diagnosed
with breast cancer over five years ago. This summer, she will join tens of
thousands on Sunday, September 18th, at Waterfront Park in downtown Portland
for a special acoustical performance at the 2005 Komen Portland Race for the
CureŽ.
The post-event performance and autograph-signing will be Soraya's first live
performance in the Pacific Northwest following the release of her highly-
acclaimed new album, El Otro Lado de Mi (The Other Side of Me). Last year,
Soraya won the 2004 Latin Grammy in the new and prestigious
Singer-Songwriter category for her album Soraya, beating out such living
legends as Joan Sabastian, Juan Gabriel, and Joan Manuel Serrat.
"Soraya brings
extraordinary visibility to a disease many women -- especially those in our
Hispanic communities -- still don't want to talk about, or don't believe
will really happen to them. She inspires women to take control of their own
breast health by sharing her own personal survival experience and
life-saving message," says Chris McDonald, Executive Director of the Komen
Portland affiliate.
While the overall breast cancer mortality rate has steadily declined over
the past decade, the mortality rate for minority women has not declined at
the same pace. Among women of Hispanic origin, breast cancer is more
frequently diagnosed at a later stage when fewer treatment options are
available. A recent study, however, revealed that when Caucasian, African
American and Hispanic women were provided equal access to high-quality
mammography screening, all groups had similar rates of breast cancer
survival.
"This performance is a great way to celebrate the lives of the men and women
who battle this disease. Breast cancer doesn't know race or age or
socioeconomic status. Yet mortality rates for minority women are higher than
for Caucasian women," says Soraya. "Everyone deserves a fighting chance to
survive this terrible disease."
Throughout the rise of her career, Soraya's music has been praised for its
timeless melodies and thought-provoking down-to-earth lyrics. This is the
story of a young Latina singer-songwriter who crossed over into Adult
Contemporary with her bilingual songs and modern sound -- a woman whose
distinctive and sensual voice has led her to be called the Latina Sarah
McLachlan. This is also the story of a rising star whose ascent was abruptly
halted by a diagnosis of breast cancer -- a disease to which she lost her
mother, aunt and grandmother. And this is the story of a brave woman who,
against all odds, beats the illness and returns triumphantly to the stage
and a Grammy-winn ing career.
Soraya is attending the Portland RFTC as spokesperson for livingwithit.org,
an online, bilingual resource created by Sanofi-Aventis for woman dealing
with breast cancer.
About Komen Race for the CureŽ
In 1983, Nancy Brinker created the first Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation Race for the CureŽ in Dallas, Texas with 800 participants. Today,
the Komen Race for the CureŽ Series is the largest series of 5k runs/fitness
walks in the world. This year, more than 1 million people are expected to
participate in a Komen Race for the CureŽ.
In addition to raising funds, the Komen Race for the CureŽ Series is
committed to educating the public about early detection, the best way to
survive this life-threatening disease. The five-year survival rate is 95
percent when the disease is discovered while still confined to the breast.
The Komen Race for the CureŽ Series helps raise awareness of the importance
of a positive breast health program -- monthly breast self- examinations for
all women beginning at age 20, clinical breast exams every three years
beginning at age 20 and annually at age 40, and annual mammography beginning
by age 40.
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