Thank You Pink Ribbon Run - Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative

A New Chapter for WBCI

For nearly a decade, the Pink Ribbon Run has been more than just a race; it has been the heartbeat of the Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative. It is where our story began. It’s where we first gathered as a community, celebrated our first survivors, honored our first warriors, remembered those we have lost to this disease, and raised the very first dollars to fuel our mission. Quite simply, the Pink Ribbon Run helped build WBCI from the ground up, but to make room for the next era, we have made the incredibly tough choice to bring this tradition to a close.

This was not a decision that was made overnight. Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative staff and board members talked endlessly among themselves and with outside sources about what the right decision is to make. It is hard to say farewell to something that made your organization possible. WBCI is an organization that exists because of a group of women who saw an unmet need nearly a decade ago and took the initiative to make a change. All the dreams and goals of WBCI are rooted in the grit and vision of our founders, something we keep in mind at every decision. While we are saying goodbye to the physical Pink Ribbon Run, we are not retiring our roots. We will always honor the survivors and those we have lost to breast cancer. You will always be our heartbeat.

But just as the world is constantly changing, including the various changes in what is required of WBCI as a support system for Wyoming, the world of fundraising has changed. Looking toward the future, we realize that the best way to continue our legacy is to ensure our organization remains as agile and impactful as possible. We will never forget our roots. The PRR served as the foundation for everything we have achieved together. The landscape of fundraising is changing, and our commitment to you, and to those we serve, demands that we remain the best possible stewards of your generosity.

As we trade the physical finish line for a broader reach, we are taking this time to intentionally design our next chapter. In the coming weeks, we will be sharing more about what these new opportunities for outreach and giving will look like. We aren’t just changing an event; we are evolving our entire approach to better serve every corner of Wyoming. The spirit of the PRR, the awareness raised, and the lives touched, will serve as the foundation for our next chapter.

We are incredibly excited to begin this new era of fundraising and outreach. This transition allows us to dream bigger, reach further across Wyoming, and embark on a new adventure with all of you. While our methods may be evolving, our “why” remains the same.

We know you’re eager to see what’s next, and we are just as eager to share it. In the coming weeks, we will be sharing more about what this new chapter looks like. We invite you to dream with us as we design new ways to connect, give, and support our communities in the fight against breast cancer.

Thank you for being part of our history, and for walking with us into our next journey.

FAQ

Every dollar has a journey. Traditional large-scale events like the Pink Ribbon Run are incredible for community building, but they also come with significant “overhead” costs (i.e. permits, insurance, timing services, and equipment). In the nonprofit world, events like these can often cost up to 50¢ to 75¢ just to raise a single dollar.

By evolving our fundraising model, we can slash those costs. Statistics show that over 70% of donors now prefer to give online, and community-led “peer-to-peer” fundraising is growing nearly 9x faster than traditional physical events. By moving away from the finish line, we are leaning into these modern tools to reach people in every corner of our state. This means more of your generosity goes directly where it belongs: to screenings, patient support, and life-saving resources for Wyomingites.

The PRR was our foundation, but the landscape of fundraising and community needs is shifting. To be the best possible stewards of your donations, we are evolving. By closing this chapter, we are freeing up resources to design new programs that can reach more people in every corner of Wyoming, rather than being tied to a single physical location or event.

Absolutely not! We are simply changing how we engage with the community. Our mission, our “why,” and our commitment to Wyoming communities remains stronger than ever. We are moving from a single finish line to a broader, year-round impact.

We are prioritizing High-Impact Giving. Large events often have high costs that eat into donations. By focusing on direct asks and strategic partnerships, a much larger percentage of every dollar you give goes straight to a mammogram, a biopsy, or a support voucher for a neighbor in need.

Celebrating our warriors and honoring those we’ve lost is the heartbeat of WBCI. While the venue is changing, the tribute will not. We are developing new ways to weave these celebrations into our upcoming outreach programs and digital platforms so that these stories are shared far beyond a single Saturday morning.

We are currently in an intentional “design phase.” Rather than a 1-to-1 replacement, we are looking at a more agile approach to outreach. Just like how we put a lot of thought and intention into our choice to end the Pink Ribbon Run, we are making sure to put as much thought and intention into our next project. We are still discussing options and getting input from sources about what would be a good next step. Expect a series of announcements in the coming months regarding new ways to connect, gather, and give.

We want you to “dream with us” as we design the future of WBCI! We are looking for passionate advocates and volunteers to help us launch mission-focused events and local giving chapters. If you’re ready to help us reach more survivors in your specific corner of Wyoming, please email us at info@wyomingbreastcancer.org. Let’s visit about how your vision and our resources can work together