    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [June 1, 2002]
    [Pages 916-917]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Telephone Remarks to Race for the Cure Participants
    June 1, 2002

        Ambassador Nancy Brinker. Mr. President,
    we are honored that you would take time out and talk to us today. Thank
    you, and welcome.
        The President. Well, Nancy, thank you very
    much for your kind words, and I appreciate so very much your service to
    our country as Ambassador to Hungary and your service to our country as
    the founding chairman of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
        And I've got to tell you, I'm here at West Point, getting ready to
    give the commencement address, and I'm honored to be here. But I kind of
    wish I was running today with the thousands who are there.
        I want to thank all the runners for bringing hope to Americans as we
    fight cancer. I want to thank the survivors for your courage. I want to
    thank Congresswoman Sue Myrick, who is
    Race for the Cure honorary survivor chair.
        I appreciate so very much the fact that you all recognize that
    you're running for a great work and a great cause, that every life saved
    is a mother, a daughter, or a sister restored to health. What I love
    most about the Komen runs is that people participate in the spirit of
    generosity and kindness and love that really distinguishes America and
    makes us unique. You know, a lot of people go out and run to win prizes.
    You're running and walking to save lives. And for that, our Nation is
    incredibly grateful.
        I recognize that we've made some advances, and I'm grateful for
    those, as I know you are as well. But I also know that we've got a long
    way to go to win this war on cancer and breast cancer. Nancy mentioned that the Federal Government is strongly
    committed to funding--putting dollars up for research at the NIH, which
    we will do and continue to do. See, I'm an optimistic person. I
    believe--strongly believe--in our lifetimes we will achieve a victory
    over cancer.
        Again, I want to thank you for running. Every step you take today is
    critical to finding a cure for breast cancer.
        S. Sgt. Tony Damon. I'm sorry, Mr. President.
    This is Signal.
        The President. Yes--what?
        Staff Sergeant Damon. I'm sorry, they dropped
    the call. We're going to reestablish----
        The President. What are you talking about? They dropped the call?
        Staff Sergeant Damon. They tried to connect
    you to the feed, and the feed didn't go through.
        The President. You mean I haven't--they haven't heard a word yet?
        Staff Sergeant Damon. I'm sorry, Mr.
    President, they haven't heard a word.
        The President. Goddang it.

    [[Page 917]]

    [At this point, the phone line was reestablished.]

        Ambassador Nancy Brinker. Welcome, Mr.
    President.
        The President. Hey, Nancy, I am sorry that
    we dropped off. Let me tell all the runners and walkers how appreciative
    I am that you're walking and running to save lives, how appreciative I
    am that you show the great generosity of spirit of the American people.
        I want you to know, Nancy, that the
    Federal Government stands on your side, that we're going to spend money
    to research, to find the cures necessary to defeat cancer. And I believe
    in our lifetime we will defeat cancer, and a large part of that success
    goes to the thousands all across America who support the Komen
    Foundation runs and walks.
        And so, on behalf of a grateful nation, thank you for--you all for
    what you do. I'm here at West Point. I kind of wish I was running with
    you all today. But since I'm not, I am honored to be able to start the
    race.
        And so the walkers, you all will start in a few minutes. But right
    now, if the runners will get ready, it's about time for you to start.
    And so in five seconds, it is my honor to start this Race for the Cure.
    Four, three, two, one--runners ready, and go.

    Note: The teleconference began at 8:22 a.m. The President spoke from the
    Superintendent's House at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY,
    to race participants on The Mall in Washington, DC. Staff Sergeant Tony
    Damon, USA, Console Controller, Army Signal Corps, assisted the
    President in the telephone conversation.