Saturday’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure has garnered special excitement because of the event’s new location at Ridgmar Mall, Race Chair Kara Rariden said.

This year TCU will bring its own group, team Frogs for the Cure, along for the run, Susan G. Komen’s Director of Public Relations Liz Heck said.

The team has raised $1,445 toward its $5,000 goal as of Monday, Heck said.

The team captain for Frogs for the Cure is Mary Patton, dean of the College of Education. This is the first year that TCU has a team running in the race, Patton said.

“I am a breast cancer survivor, and last year there was a team in my name,” Patton said. “When I was at the race, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if there was one big TCU team here?'”

About 40 people have joined the Frogs for the Cure team as of Tuesday, and the goal was 200 people, she said.

Although the original goal has not yet been met, Patton was still happy about the number of volunteers.

“I am incredibly impressed with the student involvement in the Susan G. Komen initiative on campus,” Patton said. “I don’t think other campuses would have such great involvement. It really shows that TCU has a lot of heart,” she said.

Patton believed the Komen for the Cure is a cause that almost everyone can relate to.

“I think there are very few people whose lives have not been touched in some way by breast cancer,” Patton said. “Whether it’s by wives, daughters or friends, everyone seems to be affected in some way,” she said.

Rariden said in addition to running in the race, TCU students are also involved as volunteers at the event. Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure receives help from the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority every year, with students volunteering to help with registration and working in the tents, she said.

Cortney Cockrell, a sophomore Zeta member and economics major, said the foundation is the sorority’s main philanthropy.

The TCU Zetas have multiple campus involvements and events during the year to support Susan G. Komen, such as participating in Frogs for the Cure, Race for the Cure and separate fundraisers, she said.

Rariden said students can still sign up for the race at Luke’s Locker on West Seventh Street. Sign-ups will be open until the store closes Friday at 7 p.m. Runners and walkers can also register the morning of the race at the race location, the Ridgmar Mall, she said.

Heck said the Race for the Cure is the largest charitable 5K race in Tarrant County. She expected more participants this year than ever before, and said the race is expected to draw more than 15,000 people.

Heck said 75 percent of the funds raised from the event will directly support breast cancer education, detection and treatment in Tarrant, Parker, Johnson and Hood counties.

Rariden said the event is open to the public, and anyone may attend and enjoy the sponsors’ tents.

Tim Halperin and Susan G. Komen for the Cure

TCU alumnus and former “American Idol” contestant Tim Halperin said after participating with the Frogs for the Cure events at the university last fall, he has been invited to perform at Race for the Cure runs around the country.

For Frogs for the Cure, he wrote the song “We Fight Back” and created an accompanying video, which showcased over 1,500 participants. After this experience and others with the Komen for the Cure, Halperin said he decided to continue to inspire and support breast cancer survivors and the Susan G. Komen community.

Halperin has continued to work closely with the foundation both locally and now nationally, he said. His “We Fight Back” video has over 36,000 views on YouTube, and Halperin has recently received a further honor — “We Fight Back” is featured in the newest [Susan G. Komen] international publicity video.

The video will be featured on Susan G. Komen websites, commercials, publicity events and at races nationwide.

Halperin is scheduled to perform at the Komen Mid-Michigan Race for Cure on April 17, the Komen Global Race for the Cure in Washington, D.C. on June 4, and the Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure on June 11.

The Global Race in Washington, D.C. will have the largest audience, he said.

Although he wanted to participate in Saturday’s race, Halperin could not because he has performances in Nashville, Tenn., Ann Louden, the chancellor’s associate for external relations, said. Halperin is working on a performance schedule to include as many of the races as possible.

Race for the Cure sign-up:

Where: Luke’s Locker; 2600 W. Seventh St., Suite 107

When: Now through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Race:

What: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

Where: Ridgmar Mall

When: Saturday

Registration: 6-8:20 a.m.

Mile race begins at 8 a.m.; 5K race begins at 8:30 a.m.

Registration is open to the public. For more information visit komengreaterfortworth.org