RUN FOR THE CURE
Thousands turn out clad in pink
A wave of more than 5,000 pinkclad participants took over Tunney’s Pasture early Sunday morning with the hope of putting an end to breast cancer.
While overcast conditions and chilly winds put a dent in the number of participants for the 2015 Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, there were still thick crowds of runners wearing pink outfits that consisted of bras, boas, plush-breast scarves and regular running attire. If it was clothing and pink, it was on display Sunday.
The event consisted of either a one-kilometre or five-km run or walk. The Ottawa event is part of a national initiative that saw 62 communities across Canada hold similar runs to raise money to help fund breast cancer research and raise awareness about the importance of early detection.
Organizers said at least $850,000 was raised by the Ottawa event as of Sunday. The final tally won’t be available for another few days.
The numbers on Sunday fell short of the record-breaking amounts from 2014, when more than 7,000 participants took part, raising more than $1 million. However, organizers wouldn’t let the slightly lower totals put a damper on the day.
“Progress in breast cancer research means that fewer Canadian women are dying from breast cancer today than in the past,” said Lynne Hudson, chief executive of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
“The CIBC Run for the Cure gives Canadians the chance to celebrate how far we’ve come and unite in dedication towards the future ... we’re all in this together.”
Since its inception in 1994, the event has raised more than $20 million for breast cancer research and awareness initiatives.
Smack in the middle of the sea of runners Sunday was Judi Corkery, 53, who was being pushed through the course in a wheelchair by a large group of friends and family. The Ottawa resident, who was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have a double mastectomy before learning the cancer had spread to other parts of her body, including her brain, said the event is important to her because of the way it rallies support for those in need.
“It’s just so great to see everyone support it and come out,” she said, referring to the crowds that lined the course and cheered on the participants. “I’ve had support from all over the world. It’s amazing. I’m blessed with the best family and friends.”
Corkery’s crew formed team “In Memory of Judi’s Jugs,” a fun way to refer to the 53-year-old’s struggles with cancer. The Ottawa crew was one of three participating in the Sunday runs on behalf of Corkery. Her daughter in Alberta and friends in Toronto were also among those running for the cure.
The importance of showing support for people who are battling any type of cancer is an issue that Rosalind Bell, 67, and her team, “Just Doing It,” know especially well. Bell, who has been a member of the team for years, said it’s made up of exclusively of cancer survivors who have bonded over their experiences and are now working to help others by raising funds for cancer research.
Her team raised more than $14,900 for this year’s event.
“We’ve all benefited from various research initiatives,” Bell said. “We’re all in the same boat.”
It’s estimated that 25,000 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. That’s up from 24,400 diagnosed in 2014.
Breast cancer is the second-mostlikely cause of death in Canadian women after lung cancer. The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation used Sunday’s event to remind women that early detection is key to successful treatment and encouraged Canadian women to continue regular checkups with their physicians.