One of Colorado’s beloved annual events is Denver’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, part of the Komen 5k run/race series that raises funds and awareness for the breast cancer movement, celebrates breast cancer survivorship and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease. Since it started in 1983, the Komen Race for the Cure Series has grown from one race with 800 people in Dallas to a global series of more than 150 Races with nearly one million people participating on four continents.
In Denver, the race attracts nearly 15,000 participants each year, which means 15,000 info sheets, bibs, T-shirts and timer chips, all needing to be personalized, sorted and mailed, according to category and color based on age, gender, survivors, competitive level, etc.
When the past fulfillment house started falling short on getting the packets distributed on time, Komen Colorado’s Director of Finance and Operations Barbara Hunter decided it was time to make a change.
“We had thousands of people calling to find out where their packets are; it took down our office – during the busiest time of the year!” she said.
Hunter had two conditions in mind in selecting a new vendor for Komen. The packets had to go out on time and ideally, wanted to provide package tracking and email confirmation for each participant for a reasonable price.
In what was described as a “true team effort,” Hunter appreciated the brainstorming and creativity that was exhibited in figuring out how to reconstruct the database, and efficiently and accurately create packets with so many shirt + bib combinations. She also recalled after a particularly draining day with a demanding race team, she called Plumb Marketing, and they simply told her, “Send us a list; we will take care of it.”
As a result of the new partnership, the amount of Komen staff hours spent managing race packets was dramatically reduced, allowing organizers to focus on key logistics of the race. Race participants were able to easily track their packets electronically, and most importantly, receive everything on time.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better partner,” says Hunter. “Our office works overtime during this month for this wonderful event, and we were able to concentrate on the race, knowing that this component, which is so key to the participant experience, was completely taken care of.”
Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit. Locally, Komen Colorado is positively impacting the lives of breast cancer patients by investing in partner organizations on the front lines of breast care, funding the critical education, screening and treatment that Coloradans need to fight their battle – and win. The Komen Race Series welcomes people of all ages and fitness levels, from walkers to elite runners.
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