With 24 teams and 426 participants, TI had its largest corporate team this year taking part in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. (Photos courtesy of Anthony Bridges)

TI employees raised more than $46,345 to fight breast cancer through support for the North Texas Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure recently in Plano. That is $6,000 more than last year, with additional funds expected to be collected in the coming weeks.

The company contributed $17,500, raising the total amount to date to $63,845.

With 24 teams and 426 race participants, including those who opted to "sleep in" for the cure, TI fielded its largest corporate team this year and expects to be the largest corporate fundraiser as well.

"Thank you to all those to who participated in TI's Komen team through walking, raising funds and donating," said Andy Smith, TI director of corporate philanthropy. "The work you did will have a positive impact on many people in our community."

The TI Women's Initiative (TI WIN) coordinated TI's Komen efforts this year. The initiative paid race entry fees for the first 10 breast cancer survivors to sign up for the team. TI WIN also urged employees and contractors to wear pink to work the day before the race to support the TI Komen participants.

The fundraising efforts worked, with TI raising more than $32,000 more than the next highest supporting company.

"I would like to personally thank our team captains for the passion and dedication they demonstrated in building their teams and encouraging participation," said Nancy Kelly, co-chair of TI's Komen team. "This year was definitely a success, and we could not have done it without them."

TI employees for the cure
Yolanda Scott, captain of the Worldwide Facilities Komen team, said she supported TI's Komen efforts this year despite the recent political controversy involving the Komen organization.

"Women all over the world are still experiencing breast cancer, and they need our support," she said. "I supported SGK because I believe it's the right thing to do."

Jennifer Kass, captain of the TI-Education Technology Komen team, agreed, saying, "I participated in the Komen Race for the Cure because it allowed me to contribute to something bigger than myself and make an impact in the lives of people that I know."

Melanie Sinclair, captain of the High Performance Analog Komen team, said that her support for Komen is personal.

Her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2005 and every day since then has been a gift, she said.

In 2010, to celebrate her mom's five-year survivorship, she, her sister and her niece joined her mom in their first Komen Race for the Cure.

"It was overwhelming to see all the people whose lives have been touched by breast cancer in one way or another, and inspiring to see all the survivors at the race," Sinclair said. "We have since decided that we will participate in the Komen Race for the Cure every year."

This year, she wanted to step up and make a bigger impact by helping spread breast cancer awareness and raising funds to benefit the local community.

"Volunteering as a team captain for our organization's team gave me a different perspective, and was a very fulfilling experience," she said. "Seeing how our group came together in solidarity, I cannot help but feel proud that TI supports this very worthy cause, and I look forward to future events of this nature."

Finding a cure
All money raised through the annual Komen Race for the Cure campaign helps raise awareness and find a cure for breast cancer, which is the most prevalent cancer in the world today, with about 1.3 million people diagnosed annually.

The exact cause of the disease is unknown, and at this time, there is no cure. Susan G. Komen's primary objective is funding grassroots education, screening and treatment programs, as well as national research.

As much as 75 percent of the net proceeds raised by area Komen affiliates are dedicated to fighting breast cancer in Collin, Denton and Grayson counties.

View slideshow of photos from the event.