Gray, gloomy skies proved to be no obstacle for the wave of pink that overwhelmed Mizzou Sports Park on Sunday morning.
Hosted by the Komen Mid-Missouri Affiliate, the second annual Race for the Cure drew more than 4,000 volunteers, runners and survivors in the quest to raise funds and provide education about breast cancer.
“I think it was the biggest race in Columbia ever, out of all the 5Ks we’ve had,” said Jackie Verdun, chairwoman and breast cancer survivor. “Last year we had about 4,500 and this year we were at about the same. We are hoping to raise that number because, of course, there are more and more people affected by breast cancer every year.”
The disease, which, [according to U.S. breast cancer statistics](http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics.jsp), affects one out of every eight women, is becoming common among younger age groups.
The shift is a key reason why 75 percent of the race proceeds will stay in Missouri and be funneled toward research to find a cure. The other 25 percent will go to support education and treatment on a national scale.
“We have a grant process where the money is granted out within our 16 communities,” Race Chairwoman Johanna Cox-Littrell said. “Our goal was $225,000 and our fundraising doesn’t stop until Oct. 31. We are well over halfway by now. Between what we already have been collecting online and what we collected at Race for the Cure, we are well over $100,000. We feel confident that we will be able to make that goal.”
In addition to the main attraction, the 5K Race, there was a Kid’s Fun Run, a one-lap race around Faurot Field, a “Paint your Pumpkin” party and a survivor tent.
A sponsor village with sponsors such as American Airlines, Walgreens, Yoplait and Creative Days Art Studio, was also present.
“The event was a huge success,” freshman Luke Welsh said. “I learned more about people than anything else. It was really cool seeing full families running together and encouraging each other, just working together for a common goal and purpose. There was a lot of love going on, not like sparks flying, just good old fashioned love, which is always good. Everyone had their own story.”
The day was both a celebration and remembrance for those with breast cancer, those who had survived or those who knew someone with the disease. Special treatment and a small parade, led by the Missouri Military Academy, were held in the survivor tent.
“It’s all survivors and their families and friends,” Verdun said. “I love that because the atmosphere in the tent is very special. Everybody is going through different phases. A lady who was there got a mastectomy two days before the race. One of the moving things is that survivors always want to tell you how many years they have survived.”
As part of the parade, each survivor was given petals to denote how many years they had been cancer free. The procession served as reinforcement for one of Race for the Cure’s biggest goals: education and prevention.
“When I was a kid, people didn’t even say cancer out loud, they whispered it,” Cox-Littrell said. “It’s so important that every youth person in Missouri, in the United States, in the world understands that this disease does not just affect middle aged women. The more we talk about it with the youth of today, the less of a stigma there will be on it.”