Significant impact
Fundraiser for breast cancer Sunday has walk, loads of other activities planned
Melissa Castonguay has been involved with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s CIBC Run for the Cure since about 2001. It’s important to her because of the family members she’s had who’ve battled the disease.
She’s happy to say her grandmother is a 45-year survivor of breast cancer and she’s proud to have been able to participate in her honour. When she started running she also had another relative battling the disease. Unfortunately that person passed away in 2004.
This weekend the annual CIBC Run for the Cure will take place in locations throughout Canada including here in Pictou County on Sunday at the Trenton Park.
Castonguay has been the volunteer director since it started in Pictou County in 2013.
Last year they had about 230 participants and this year they’ve already had 210 preregister. While numbers aren’t everything, Castonguay is happy when participation is high.
“It really does have an impact when people take part,” she said. “Since the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation was started there have been more than 1,400 research projects that have been funded by the foundation.”
The result has been cancer breakthroughs that have helped save lives and improve the quality of treatment for those battling cancer.
Since the run started here in 2013 she said the county has raised more than $136,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
There are a lot of activities planned for participants over the weekend and the event is designed to be family and pet friendly (with dogs on leashes). North Shore Events will be there with face painting, pink popcorn and cotton candy free of charge for participants.
One of the features on site will be the pink Survivor Tent where participating breast cancer survivors are provided refreshments, prizes, special pink event T-shirts and information on available resources and supports.
Castonguay said they’ve had great support from Sobeys locally to provide supplies for the event.
There will also be a Survivor Wall with pictures and stories shared by survivors about their journeys with breast cancer. They’ve also planned a Wall of Hope – a place for participants to leave their messages of hope for everyone to see, presented by CIBC.
As part of the opening ceremonies, bagpiper Tyler Cameron will lead a Survivor Parade. Jim Stewart will be the Survivor Speaker this year
Organizers are also encouraging people to “Pink Your Pooch” – a contest run during the event which recognizes furry participants, awarding the pinkest dog with a special prize.
At a ceremony following the walk awards will be presented for top individual fundraisers and top team fundraisers in all team categories. At the same time the grand total will be announced.
Early registration can be made online at www.cibcrunforthecure.ca, at the CIBC bank on Provost Street or at the Aberdeen Sobeys today (Friday) at the Sobeys Aberdeen Community Room from 6 to 8 p.m.
Adults can either make a minimum personal donation of $40 to participate and receive an event T-shirt or commit to fundraising a minimum of $150 by Oct. 31.
Youth (under 18) can either make a minimum personal donation of $40 to participate and receive an event T-shirt OR commit to fundraising a minimum of $60 by Oct. 31 or can choose to participate for free, but will not receive an event Tshirt.