All in a Name?

Today a friend posted that she is signed up for a 5K run. It's called the Dirty Girl Mud Run. You can Google it if you want, I don't want to put a link. It looks like fun if you're into that kind of thing. It does not describe itself as a "breast cancer run " on its web page, although it DOES donate to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (hooray - it isn't giving to Komen!) Here is what it says on the front page: Having the dirtiest time of your life isn't all you'll be doing out there. A portion of all registration fees is donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation Click to learn more and you find: We're proud of Dirty Girl as an exhilarating event that empowers women through camaraderie, fun and shared challenges. In the spirit of shared challenge, we're proud to donate at least 2.5% of all registration fees to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. We're excited to assist in their life-saving mission to help women in need with education, early detection and treatment. Thanks to Dirty Girl runners everywhere, in 2011 we far exceeded our minimum goal––with $50,000 going to the cause. Our goal for 2012 is to raise at least $250,000. Let the games, and giving, begin! Now don't get me wrong, $50K and $250K isn't exactly chump change. It isn't a ton, either, but that isn't the point. Look at the actual amount per person - they are perfectly honest - "at least" 2.5% is given. Folks, I submit that this IS chump change. The fee to join this walk is $75 which is very expensive for a 5K IMO. I'm sure they have lots of expenses for the course since there are obstacles. But really, $75? Well, they can charge whatever they want. But still, 2.5% of $75 is only $1.88 per person. I have no problem with this since it's perfectly obvious on their web site. They aren't trying to be something they aren't, from what I can see. Most of the people in the pictures aren't even wearing pink. What's bugging me right now is the way my friend posted it. "officially signed up for the Dirty Girl Mud Run for breast cancer" she says. The problem is that it is NOT a "run for breast cancer". It's a run that happens to donate an extremely small portion of its proceeds for breast cancer. It's like how at Girl Scout Day camp we always collect quarters and donate them to a different place each year. We don't identify the camp by what our little side charity is. (And then there's the little niggling feeling I have, since I am reading "Pink Ribbon Blues" right now, that they do this little donation in order to get more runners who think they are doing this awesome thing for breast cancer. Apparently they even let 250 "survivors" run for free - although from looking at their FB page it isn't something they advertise and if a survivor pays before they find this out, too-bad-so-sad guess you know for next year.) I don't know why this bothers me so much. I am itching to say something on her post, but I don't want to be the buzzkill among all the "you go girl!!!" posts. I just don't like calling things something they aren't. If it's not a breast cancer run, don't call it one. Signed Me, the apparently bitter old hag.