The Valencia Country Club Ladies Golf Association is getting ready to hit the course in support of "Rally for the Cure," a breast cancer awareness campaign and the nation's largest grassroots women's golf program.

More than 1.4 million people have participated in Rally for the Cure events since its inception in 1996.

This year marks the second time that the VCCLGA has teed off against breast cancer, with a field of 100 players expected for the rally at Valencia Country Club on Sept. 6.

The rally depends on volunteers and salutes Bellasport as the organizer of the event.

"Breast cancer touches all women directly or indirectly during their lifetime. All of us playing at Rally for the Cure know and care about someone who is currently diagnosed with the disease or who is a breast cancer survivor," said Anna Ott, president of Bellasport. "Unfortunately, some of us also knew women who have died of the disease."

The mission of Rally for the Cure has been to emphasize the importance of early detection in the successful treatment of breast cancer and to support the promise of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to eliminate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women ages 35-54 and accounts for more than 75 percent of all cancer deaths in women ages 55 and older.

As part of Rally for the Cure activities, a closest-to-the-pin contest is held at a designated par-3 Rally hole, with title sponsor Titleist breast cancer awareness golf balls and other prizes to be awarded.

All rally players will receive early detection information, an exclusive rally pink ribbon golf pin and a one-year subscription to a Conde Nast publication, also a title sponsor.

"It's only natural that we ladies would be passionate about raising funds for such an important awareness campaign... we're just lucky to enjoy a game of golf in the process," Ott said.

For more informationabout the Rally for the Cure Tournament, please contact Ott at 661-259-3114 or e-mail annaott@bellasport.com.