Massage Today
September, 2009, Vol. 9, Issue 09

Massage Envy Goes National to Fight Breast Cancer

Interview with CG Funk

By Christie Bondurant

For the first year since its inception in 2005, Massage Envy's Massage for the Cure will take place in nearly 600 clinics across the country with a goal of raising $500,000 in one day. Massage for the Cure is an annual massage therapy event benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world's largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer.

This major event will take place in 40 states on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 offering one-hour massage sessions at a discounted rate of $35, $10 of which will be donated to the local affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. (Additional donations will be accepted at all locations as well.)

In less than five years, Massage Envy has raised more than $800,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In the past, the event was held on different days in various Massage Envy clinics throughout the country. This is the first year they will host the event on the same day in all 590 clinics in the nation.

CG Funk, Massage Envy vice president of industry relations and product development, sat down with Massage Today to explain why this event is so important.

Please tell us a little about Massage Envy.

Massage Envy Limited, LLC, is based in Scottsdale, Ariz. and is the leading provider of therapeutic massage in the United States. In 2008, Massage Envy clinics performed over 6 million massages nationwide. We project that our clinics will perform 9 million, nationwide, in 2009.

Massage Envy Goes National to Fight Breast Cancer Tell us why Massage Envy became involved with Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Breast cancer affects so many people we simply had to find a way to help. According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2009 alone there will be 192,370 new cases of breast cancer in the U.S. - more than 1,900 of those will be men diagnosed with the disease. Of these, more than 40,100 women will die and more than 440 men will succumb to breast cancer. The numbers are so compelling and frightening. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Susan G. Komen [SGK] is a great partner as they are truly a grass roots organization with local affiliates around the country. Money raised through Massage for the Cure stays in the local community where it was generated and is used by the local SGK affiliate.

Why has Massage Envy decided this year to go national?

Previous events were held on a regional basis and were extremely successful. Each event was on a different day and as Massage Envy grew it was difficult to coordinate and grow this event on a stand-alone regional basis. We now have nearly 600 open clinics operating in 40 states and it simply made more sense to make this one-day event the same day nationwide.

What are your goals for this year?

$500,000 in single day! Our dedicated therapists are fully supporting this effort and many are working on their day off to help raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Will Massage Envy continue this one-day national event annually?

If customers respond and participate in this event like in previous years, absolutely!

At the end of our conversation, I asked CG what her hopes were for the future. She simply smiled and said "A world without breast cancer."

For more information including local clinic locations, visit www.massageenvy.com or the Massage for the Cure fan page on Facebook.