Nominations Open to Walk in Survivors Parade at the 146th Longines Kentucky Oaks

Feb 17, 2020 Tonya Abeln

Churchill Downs Continues Partnership with Derby Divas and Norton Cancer Institute to Support Women’s Health in the Local Community

LOUISVILLE, KY (Monday, February 17, 2020) – Churchill Downs, Derby Divas and Norton Cancer Institute today opened the online nomination process to select 146 breast and ovarian cancer survivors to participate in the Survivors Parade presented by Kroger at the 146^th Longines Kentucky Oaks. The public can nominate and vote on survivors for the parade or donate to Norton Cancer Institute at www.kentuckyderby.com/survivors. Nominations and voting will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on March 22. The 146 winning participants selected by the public to participate will be revealed on March 23 at 12:00 p.m. 

This marks the twelfth year of the Survivors Parade at the Longines Kentucky Oaks, which has become a platform to raise money in support of women’s breast health. Churchill Downs, Derby Divas and Norton Cancer Institute will continue their partnership to raise funds through the Oaks charitable initiative to help provide care to local women who lack access to breast health screenings and services.

Since the first Survivors Parade twelve years ago, Churchill Downs has donated and raised over $1 million for organizations that champion the cause of women’s health. For the fourth year in a row, Churchill Downs will donate $50,000 to the Breast Health Program at Norton Cancer Institute. Additionally, $1 for every Finlandia Oaks Lily sold on Oaks Day will be donated to Derby Divas. The funds raised through this partnership has been used to renovate the Norton Prevention & Wellness Mobile Prevention Center, which provides free screening services to underserved patients age 40 and older in Jefferson and surrounding counties. The renovation included the addition of a digital tomosynthesis system, which is an advanced form of breast imaging, or mammography, that uses a low-dose x-ray system and creates multiple three-dimensional images to help with better diagnoses. 

“The Survivors Parade has really come to represent the heart of Kentucky Derby week to many fans. The image of women celebrating their survival with family and friends, those still on their hard fought cancer journey and sadly, some walking in memory of a dear loved one is incredibly impactful and inspiring,” said Tonya Abeln, President of Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation. “We are grateful for a partnership with Derby Divas and Norton Cancer Institute that allows us to build on the great work they are doing in our local community to make a global impact.”

“Our partnership with Derby Divas and Churchill Downs means that more critical breast health programs are accessible to the women in our community. This includes providing access to mammograms and critical screenings through our Mobile Prevention Center and at centers throughout the region,” said Lynnie Meyer, Ed.D, R.N., CFRE, Norton Healthcare senior vice president and chief development officer.

“We are thrilled to be central to the fundraising and awareness for women’s health issues at the Kentucky Oaks for the fourth consecutive year,” said Derby Diva member Angela Tafel. “Derby Divas is a volunteer-driven community program, so the fact that the partnership focuses on making a difference locally means we can continue to raise funds and provide services to prevent breast cancer to underserved women here at home.”

About Churchill Downs Racetrack

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented the Kentucky Derby since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 146^th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 2, 2020. The track’s 2020 Spring Meet is scheduled for April 25-June 27. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships nine times. www.ChurchillDowns.com.

About Derby Divas

Derby Divas is a group of dedicated volunteers committed to raising significant funds for breast health initiatives. Their focus is making sure underserved women have access to mammograms and other key services to help prevent, detect and treat breast cancer. During the past decade, the group has raised more than $1.5 million for breast health programs and initiatives, including Norton Healthcare’s mobile prevention center that provides free mammograms and wellness exams to women with limited access to these care services. One of the group’s highlights has been to see the Derby Divas Breast Health Center dedicated at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital. https://nortonhealthcare.com/ways-to-help/norton-healthcare-foundation/foundation-events/derby-divas/

About Longines

Based in Saint-Imier, Switzerland since 1832, the watchmaking company Longines offers expertise based on devotion to tradition, elegance and performance. With generations of experience as official timekeeper of world championships and as the partner of international sports federations, Longines has built solid and lasting relationships in the world of sport over the years. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of Swatch Group S.A., the world’s leading watch manufacturer. With a winged hourglass as its emblem, the brand has outlets in more than 150 countries.

About The Kroger Co.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), is dedicated to their Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™. They are nearly half a million associates who serve over nine million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and 2,800 retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more, visit their newsroom and investor relations site.