The campus at NIC was as crowded as it is on a school day but this time it wasn’t students, faculty and administrators; it was over 1,000 participants from our local community, all there for one purpose– to raise money for funding research in the fight against breast cancer.
In the 1980s, the Susan G. Komen organization started its Race for the Cure series. All money raised at this event goes to breast cancer awareness, cures, and further research. Seventy-five percent of all earnings to local breast health services, and the remaining 25 percent of earnings go to national research to find possible cures. Coeur d’ Alene has hosted Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure for the last 17 years.
Though the cause is serious, the mood was festive. As ABBA’s Dancing Queen blared through the speakers, runners and walkers alike who were participating in the 5k and one mile race took their place at the starting line, under a wide, white banner with pink ribbons splashed a crossed waiting anxiously as 10 a.m. approached on Sunday morning, Sept. 18.
At the sound of the horn, runners, walkers, babies in strollers and even a few pets were off. A high-fiving and cheering throng of supporters stood on the sidelines.
“I think everything that brings recognition to cancer is a good thing,” said one of the “Red Hot Mamas,” dressed in hot pink tutus, bejeweled glasses and rings. The Red Hot Mamas were there as they have been for several years, jumping up and down, and waving as race participants passed by.
As race goers crossed the finish line, they went to tables sponsored by Costco for granola bars. Several other companies also were present to show support and donate for the cure. The Couer d’ Alene Press, Kootenai Outpatient Imaging, Fred Meyer, Pita Pit and Great Floors were just a few of the many businesses to help fund the race, and their names could be seen on the t-shirts given to and worn by race participants. KISS 98.1, another sponsor played music throughout the race, which kept spirits high and encouraged participants from the beginning to the end.
Many people were excited to see the support for breast cancer awareness. A local resident from Wallace, Idaho has participated in the race twice now, and said, “My daughter in-law is a breast cancer survivor.”
Community Cancer Services sponsor Cindy Marx said, “I love all the support, I am a survivor myself.
