Komen fundraising down in Indiana

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INDIANAPOLIS, April 11 (UPI) -- Organizers of this year's Susan G. Komen for the Cure race in Indianapolis report registration is way down following the Planned Parenthood controversy.

Dana Curish, head of the central Indiana chapter of the breast cancer charity, said she expects 25,000 to 26,000 people to participate in the race, the Indianapolis Star reported. That would be a significant decline from last year, when 37,740 people braved cold and windy weather and raised $2.6 million.

Pam Maas-Maciak told the newspaper she is a former Komen supporter who was turned off by the national organization's decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood breast cancer screening programs and also by its speedy reversal. Stunned by the backlash, Komen changed its mind and the executive believed to be responsible for the decision quit.

"That showed their colors. It's all about money," Maas-Maciak said. "I just can't believe that they got caught up in the politics of it."

Curish said the national group managed to "anger both sides" in the abortion debate. But she expects fundraising to be back on track next year.