THUNDER BAY – The 28th annual CIBC Run for the Cure in Thunder Bay was held at the Royal Canadian Legion Track on Sunday.
Bonnie Tittaferrante, run director for Thunder Bay, said this year’s run was more successful than anticipated.
“It started as a slow start. In the last couple of weeks, we have surpassed many of our goals.
“We are currently over $58,000 and over 265 participants.
Tittaferrante said a wonderful group of hope participants who are our survivors came out to the run.
“We had a surge of them come out today, which was awesome to see,” she said.
It’s important to hold the run year after year to support survivors, she said.
“I have been doing this for 14 years and we've had beautiful weather and we've had down pouring rain. Today we had to deal with the wind.
“We were very glad to see so many people come out and embrace the weather.”
The run along with the funds raised makes a huge difference, Tittaferrante said.
“We know we're making a difference, early detection, better treatments and just more support. Just the community as itself supporting all of these women who are battling through or have already battled through.”
Tittaferrante said the majority of the funds go into research.
“We have many research facilities that are mostly located, unfortunately, outside of our city. I know a lot of people do get concerned about that.
“The money raised here doesn't stay in the city, but it does help all of the people that are going through breast cancer. The money comes back with the research, the advancements, the better care at our facilities. So, we continue to support it.”
The money also helps with families that might need help or support during their treatment as well as help with medications and continuous supported, she said.
The run has a survivor speak at the opening ceremony each year.
“I think having a survivor speaker every year at our event helps to remind us and it gives us that personal understanding of what people go through.
“Every story is different. Everyone has a different story and it just makes us learn how to understand more of what they're going through,” she said.
Dani Soares, manager of the signature program at the Canadian Cancer Society, said the society is preparing a letter.
“We are preparing a letter to the Canada Minister of Health to lobby for the age to be lowered to 40 in all provinces and territories because the sooner that we can find and detect cancer, then we'll be able to treat it better.
“Today at the run, we do have a QR code that people can scan and sign the letter that way or speak to one of our volunteers.
Visit cancer.ca to sign the letter that way, she said.
“This is our way of supporting October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. People can fundraise and celebrate those that are still living with breast cancer.
“But also gives us an opportunity to reflect on those that we've lost and to do something in their honour so that we can continue to move forward.
“The reality is there's still a long way to go and the more that we can fundraise and bring awareness, the more of impact we will have.”
