Susan G. Komen affiliate in El Paso ceasing operations in March

Susan G. Komen announced Monday its El Paso affiliate will cease operations March 31, 2017.

For more than 24 years, the organization helped raise funds for breast health treatment, screening, and educational services. The organization helped raise $4.6 million for the El Paso community, a news release states.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that due to economic and operational realities, we will be ceasing operations once our current affiliation agreement expires,” a news release states, “Over time, the operational demands needed to effectively deliver our mission in a measurable way, maintain compliance and good standing, and generate positive revenue have proven to be too challenging.”

The annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure will not be organized next year. Monday, the Rio Grande Cancer Foundation announced the “Colors of Cancer-Our Colors Run Together” race at Cohen Stadium for April 2, 2017.

“We learned that one of the community’s major financers of breast cancer services was ending its El Paso event and felt compelled to take action to continue to raise money for breast cancer awareness,” said Patty Tiscareno, the foundation’s executive director.

A hundred percent of the money raised by the foundation’s 5K race/walk will stay in El Paso, Tiscareno said.