Running for the cure

By Mo Cranker on October 2, 2017.

mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker

The often said that everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer.

More than 300 runners and volunteers gathered at Echo Dale Regional Park Sunday for the CIBC Run for the Cure, which is held annually to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer initiatives.

Canadian Cancer Society development officer Laura Reynolds says the run is something people look forward to all over the country.

“This is a nation-wide event that takes place in more than 50 sites in Canada,” she said. “This is held on the first Sunday of October every year, with all the cities doing it on the same day.”

With the Run for the Cure growing into one of the biggest cancer fundraising events in the country, Reynolds says it is all about helping people go through cancer, and eventually defeating it.

“We want to show support for people going through breast cancer, and to show support for the people supporting them” she said. “We want to be change makers and to see that change. We hope to one day see an end to breast cancer and to live in a world without it.”

Breast cancer survivor Leanne Thomas was diagnosed in April of 2016 after finding a lump on her breast one day, but was able to walk her first ever Run for the Cure Sunday.

“It feels great to be here today,” she said. “It’s a beautiful day, and it’s great to see so many people out here wearing pink.”

Sunday’s run raised more than $33,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, and Thomas says the support is amazing.

“Seeing the group of people is amazing, you know there’s so many people here that have shared experiences,” she said.

Thomas says she is open to anyone in the community reaching out to her for advice that may be dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis.

“There’s a lot of things I didn’t know at the start that I know now,” she said. “It’s a hard process, and everyone deals with it differently.”

14
-13

Comments are closed.