It is estimated that 192,370 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States in 2009.

However, thanks to fundraising efforts by breast cancer research, prevention and survival organizations such as the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer, when it is caught early before spreading beyond the breast, is now 98 percent compared with just 74 percent in 1982.

In conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an event known as the Pink and White Ball was held last weekend at the Milledgeville Country Club as a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The third annual event offered a raffle and door prizes, as well as a four-course meal and performance by a local bank known as the RX Band.

Local event coordinator and Kroger customer service employee Leslie Johnson said the decision to join the fight to end breast cancer and help out with the event was made due to personal circumstances.

“Three years ago, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer,” she said. “Less than a year later, my sister-in-law was diagnosed, too. When Susan G. Komen came up as a possible charity to work, I did some research on it and I was inspired by the story that started that organization.”

When the foundation was started in 1982, the premise of the organization was based on a promise that founder Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister.

Brinker told her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever, and with the start of the organization, that dream continues on.

Today, the organization is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find cures, a media kit on the foundation states.

With events like the Pink and White Ball being organized throughout the United States and the world each year, money raised during the events is donated to the foundation and goes toward prevention, research, awareness and help for survivors.

“They’ve made great breakthroughs with research,” said Johnson. “It just touched my heart when I read that story, and I really enjoy doing it. You hear a lot of good stories, but you also hear sad stories. But I just really enjoy helping people.”

Johnson said it’s unfortunate that many people do not think to get involved with a cause unless it somehow affects them personally, but she enjoys being a part of the solution.

Johnson said an estimated $3,000 was raised at this year’s event, but money is still coming in toward the cause.

To make a donation to the cause, call Leslie Johnson at (478) 452-1461 or Bonnie Murphy at (478) 453-9346.

For additional information on the Susan G. Komen Foundation, visit www.komen.org.