Race For The Cure ® ... A Day To Remember!

The Race for the Cure® Breast Cancer Walk that Susan G. Komen puts together every year is nothing short of amazing. The Race For The Cure® is probably the largest walk for breast cancer as far as number of walkers per event. It makes sense since it's a half day versus the 2-day and 3-day walks. The walks are typically scheduled when the weather is “supposed to be” at its best, and of course they’re held on a weekend so that the majority of people can be there. The first Race that my son and I walked in had a total of about 18,000 walkers, along with what was called “3 Miles of Men”. The 3 Miles of Men were the men in the lives of the women who were walking…the husbands, brothers, nephews, sons, and fathers of the women affected by breast cancer. They lined the course and cheered as 18,000 plus women walked for the cure. It’s a day where you can count on the men not being embarrassed to wear pink…a day that they realize that real men CAN wear pink…and real men DO cry.

The Race For The Cure® is an incredibly emotional day. You gather together to walk or run a 5K race and realize that thousands of men, women and children, decked out in all colors (pink being the primary one of course), are walking together for one reason…to support eradicating breast cancer. Today, the races include the men as a part of the walk.

Prior to the races getting started, there are areas set up for the vendors who support breast cancer research by donating funds to the foundation. It seems that every year there are more and more sponsor companies giving money back to breast cancer research. They hand out brochures, pamphlets and flyers to raise awareness. They give away product samples with pink ribbons on their logos or special edition packaging in pink. They even take pictures that they then make available for us online! And they provide hope…hope that more and more funds will be provided for finding the cure to end breast cancer.

Of course the most fun at the event is always the bonding. Getting to meet and talk with many of our fellow walkers. We laugh with many, we cry with some, and of course, I spend time asking questions. Questions about why people are walking, who they walk for, and what the experience has meant to them. Some of those that we’ve met have provided us with invaluable information to be added to our site so we can continue getting information to people about the different types of breast cancer that are out there, what can be done, and what questions must be asked. This is an event where literally thousands come together for just a single day out of the year, then go home without maybe knowing the name of those who touched their lives profoundly…with just a simple hug, a pat on the shoulder, a reaffirming nod that they completely understand how they feel…and it’s ok, because it’s the feeling that will be remembered.

When the race gets ready to start, you see what thousands of people coming together looks like. It’s an incredible sight…thousands of people decked out in shades of pink standing together taking up the entire width of a 4-lane road, ready to walk for one cause. We do stretching that’s typically run by one person at the front of the crowd on a stage, walking us through stretches so that we’re not sore when we’re done with the walk. There’s usually fast-paced music playing over a loud speaker system that gets everyone pumped up and ready to go (including those of us that are not typically morning people). Then we’re off and walking, slowly spreading out as we go down the road.

Then there are the volunteers at the event. The Race For The Cure® just wouldn’t be complete without them. These are the folks who come out early so that they can get positioned along the route. They’re there to cheer us on. They’re there to fill up thousands of tiny cups with water and hand them to the walkers as they pass. They’re there to greet us at the finish line and hand us snacks and drinks that were donated by our sponsor companies. They always have big smiles on their faces and give hugs if that’s what it takes to keep us moving to the finish line. Volunteers don’t always get the credit they deserve, simply because the focus is typically on the runners and walkers, but without them, the event just would NOT be the same!

If you’ve not yet been a part of a Race For The Cure® event, check out their website and see when the next event is closest to you (or in a city where you have family or friends that would be willing to get out and participate with you) and sign up. Be a runner, a walker, a volunteer…it doesn’t matter how you participate, you’ll be amazed at how great it will make you feel. And, if you’re not able to walk for whatever reason, Komen now offers the Sleep In For The Cure® option! J

For more details and photos of the Race For The Cure® events we’ve walked in, check it out below.

2006 Phoenix Race For The Cure®