It was sun and cloud and 15 degrees.
The Run For The Cure at Charlottetown Waterfront. The out and back course on Old Charlottetown and Victoria Park.
CBC's Steve Bruce won the race and Jennifer Pizio-Perry for the top female.
I finished in 21:36 and came in 9th.
More Photos2007 Run For The Cure ~ 2006 Run For The Cure
2005 Run For The Cure ~ 2004 Run For The Cure
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2010-10-03/article-1817670/CIBC-Run-raises-%24175%2C000-for-cancer-research/1CIBC Run raises $175,000 for cancer research
Guardian photo by Brian McInnis
CIBC Run for the Cure
P.E.I. CIBC Run for the Cure
raises nearly $175,000 for breast cancer research
Joanne Holden was in the middle of a work meeting when her cellphone rang on Sept. 21, 2007.
Answering the call to hear her doctor’s voice on the other line, the meeting no longer seemed important and when he said her mammogram results were positive for breast cancer, Holden was shocked.
Thoughts started running through her head.
“How do I tell my family? My two girls? Am I going to die?” she thought.
Then Holden switched into fighting mode.
“It’s that feeling that you’re going to beat it, whatever it takes,” she said Sunday as the honorary chair at the 19th annual CIBC Run for the Cure.
Islanders from Souris to West Prince and everywhere in between took part in the event, running towards a cure for breast cancer at the Confederation Landing Park on Sunday.
About 11,000 participants split into about 85 teams raised almost $175,000 for breast cancer awareness.
While the amount was shy of the $200,000 goal, chair of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure committee Leone Dixon said the run’s support was overwhelming and with donations left to count, the final number will be a little higher than $174,583.48, announced at the end of the run.
“I have people coming up to me today asking, What’s going on here? Where can I give?’ It’s just phenomenal,” said Dixon.
The crowd’s support was amazing, said three-time breast cancer survivor Marlene Cairns, while handing out pink shirts to other survivors.
“It keeps you going as a survivor,” said Cairns.
“They don’t give up on you so you don’t give up. I’m really lucky to be alive.”
With about 75 survivors, totalling a combined 410 years of living with breast cancer, the far-reaching disease affects many Canadians, said Cairns.
“Everyone here in a pink shirt has their own story,” she said.
I have people coming up to me today asking, What’s going on here? Where can I give?’ It’s just phenomenal. - Leone Dixon, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure committee
Holden’s first experience in the run was five days before her surgery in October 2007.
Six rounds of chemotherapy and five weeks of radiation followed her surgery.
Holden was treated with herceptin through an IV every three weeks for a year before her cancer was gone.
“They don’t ever say your cancer is cured, said Holden. It’s hope that it doesn’t come back and reoccur. You pray each day that it won’t come back.”
Since her first Run for the Cure, the event has become an important tradition for Holden and her family.
“I’ve experienced firsthand the remarkable work done as a result of the run and the incredible outcome it can have on people’s lives,” she said.
The run honours the lives of those who lost their fight to the disease and to cherish and support those fighting it, said Health and Wellness Minister Carolyn Bertram.
With low waiting times in the province for mammograms, getting screened for breast cancer is integral in catching the disease, she said.
“We have to get the message out and get more women in our province screened,” said Bertram. “We have to do that whether they’re our sisters, mothers or friends, we have to.”
Getting screened is easy for Islanders fortunate enough to have the province’s cancer treatment facilities, said Holden, adding that the facilities became a second family to her during her fight.
Honoured, yet surprised when asked to be the 2010 run’s honorary chair because of her young age, Holden said she realized breast cancer has no age limit, making the screening process integral in fighting the disease.
“If you feel something that may not be right, get it checked. Early detection is key.”
