Released on = January 16, 2007, 12:36 pm

Press Release Author = SFWMD

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Press Release Summary = 376 South Florida Water Management District employees will
walk in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Race for the Cure on January 20, 2007.

Press Release Body = Over four years ago Kathie Morris, a Finance Manager at the
South Florida Water Management District, was diagnosed with breast cancer. To show
support for Kathie, fellow co-worker and friend, Claudia Kugler organized the first
cancer support group among district employees, then dubbed "Kathie's Friends," to
participate in the 2003 Komen South Florida Race For the Cure®. In what seems like a
chapter taken straight out of life is stranger than fiction, Claudia was diagnosed
with breast cancer less than two months later.

The medical battles Morris and Kugler fought to heal themselves inspired other
District employees, family, friends and survivors to join the fight against breast
cancer. The 55 District employees who participated in the 2003 walk raised more than
$1,100. They also helped raise breast cancer awareness high enough that by the end
of 2006, the SFWMD Race for the Cure team had grown to 376 members, and the year's
fundraisers produced more than $29,000 on behalf of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation.

"I am so proud of our staff at the District," said Carol Wehle, Executive Director
of the South Florida Water Management District. "This fund raising effort shows what
a true selfless organization we are. Every year their hearts and dedication to the
cause surpasses the last. I am amazed."

Morris and Kugler also continue to be impressed by the dedication of their fellow
employees who, since 2003, raised over $55,000 to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation.

"You want to find a cure because you don't want your kids or anyone else to get it,"
said Kugler, a District business operations manager who lives in Lake Clarke Shores.
She added that the desire to help in the fight against breast cancer probably
resonated so strongly throughout the District in recent years because it touches so
many lives.

Alice J. Carlson, a South Florida Water Management District Governing Board member,
also has first-hand experience with this devastating disease estimated to have
stricken about 213,000 new patients in 2006 alone.

"As a breast cancer survivor, I am truly touched by the time and money the employees
of this agency have donated over the years to help fight this disease," said
Carlson, a five-year cancer survivor and one of the honorary co-chairs of the 2007
SFWMD Race for the Cure Team. Other District honorary co-chairs for this year's team
are Governing Board Member Irela Bagué and Governing Board Member Miya Burt-Stewart.

This year's race, the 16th annual Komen South Florida Race for the Cure, is January
20, along the Intracoastal Waterway on Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach.
The 5K run was first established in 1982 by Nancy G. Brinker after her sister, Susan
G. Komen, died of breast cancer at the age of 36.

"We are so inspired by the South Florida Water Management District team\'s efforts,"
said Anita Holmes, executive director of the Komen South Florida affiliate. "It is a
shining example of how breast cancer touches the lives of so many people throughout
our community. We're grateful to the more than 350 team members that helped our
local affiliate in our efforts to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening
disease."

Last year's Komen South Florida Race for the Cure attracted nearly 20,000
participants and raised over $1,070,000 for the foundation. Of the money raised
annually at the event, up to 75 percent stays in the area to fund valuable
education, screening and treatment. The remaining 25 percent funds cutting edge
breast cancer research.

For more information on Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation visit www.komen.org .

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The South Florida Water Management District is a regional, governmental agency that
oversees the water resources in the southern half of the state - 16 counties from
Orlando to the Keys. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water
management districts. The agency mission is to manage and protect water resources of
the region by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems
and water supply. A key initiative is cleanup and restoration of the Everglades.


Web Site = http://

Contact Details = Julie Greenberg
South Florida Water Management District
Office: (561) 682-2115 Cellular: (561) 718-4232