THUNDER BAY – Over 250 city runners teamed up with runners from all over the country to raise money for breast cancer on Sunday.
The CIBC Run for the Cure is in its 27th year and support for the cause is still going strong and Thunder Bay Run Director, Bonnie Tittaferrante, said that local runners were fundraising hard in anticipation of the run.
“We have over 250 participants that have raised over $64,000. We've had a great day. We're the first to use this brand new track at the Royal Legion Stadium and it's been a great day,” she said.
“We have our teams that have raised a lot of money and we're here because over 28,000 women last year got diagnosed with breast cancer, and we run for all of them, and we're helping to make lives better, fuller, and to make a difference.”
Since 1997 the run has raised funds that have improved chemotherapy programs, allowed for earlier diagnosis and easier treatment, and have also supported immunotherapy programs that go along with chemotherapy.
Tittaferrante said that its important to support these programs as they help those with breast cancer to live longer, fuller lives because cancer can be found sooner.
“I think it's very important, it's just a reminder, it keeps us in check of what other people are going through and just to keep us a vision that we're eventually are going to help and improve peoples lives and we need to keep doing it,” she said.
Thunder Bay Local, Lynn Gray, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and has just finished radiation treatment. She said that support she has seen in the community has been amazing.
“Without people helping out like this, where would I be today? Because Cancer Research is a very important part of the cancer treatments,” she said.
To find out more about the Canadian Cancer Society or to donate to support breast cancer research and treatment, visit the Canadian Cancer Society’s website.
To find out more about how this year’s run went and to celebrate local running teams, visit the CIBC Run for the Cure website.
