Survivor DebiLyn Smith stresses prevention and research. “Rock on Pink” she told crowd. Photos 250News

Prince George, B.C. – More than three hundred Prince George and area residents turned out Sunday to take part in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s Run for the Cure.

The participants, members of 28 teams and those who completed the 1k or 5k walk or run as individuals, raised a run day total of $ 87.742.00 which will remain in the B.C. region for research into breast cancer and support programs for those diagnosed with the disease. The Prince George contingent joined 120,000 other Canadians who took part in run events in 65 communities across the country.

Prior to the run participants heard from a number of speakers, including Brenda Mondor, District Branch Manager with CIBC, the event’s major sponsor. She says “our involvement has grown from a small group of passionate employees participating in support of a colleague many years ago to a third of all CIBC employees now participating annually.” She noted that over $26million was raised through the run across Canada last year, with 15,000 CIBC members contributing more than $3 million through pledges, fundraising events in bank branches and contributions to the CIBC Pink Collection.

“CIBC’s commitment to a future without breast cancer is stronger than ever. We can’t stop now and we can’t do it without all of you here today. Every year we continue to be amazed by the dedication, enthusiasm and enormous efforts put forth by all of the participants and volunteers who have come together to make the Run for the Cure the success that it is.”

Breast cancer survivors lead gathering in a moment’s silence

Cancer survivor DebiLyn Smith, whose home town is Houston, said she had written a speech but decided to toss it out. “I’m looking out there at all the pink and it’s really impressing me because way back I used to be a person that just loved pink. I wore a lot of pink but then breast cancer caught up with me and tapped me on the shoulder when I least expected it and now, pink means a different thing to me. That’s why I wear the pink camo as I try to fight back.”

“It’s a big thing, this getting cancer, it’s something that not a lot of people figure they’re going to get. But I came out of the experience mad, mad enough to write a book called Running From Cancer. It’s about learning to stand up as well as trying to prevent your own cancer by tightening your own anti-cancer belt. There’s lots of thing we can do, simple things like drinking more water, eating less red meat. You know the drill, quit smoking, maintain a healthy body rate. Prevention is the key to a lot of this.”

“But the biggest thing is it is like a cancer lottery, the more tickets you give yourself the better the chance you’re going to win this lottery. And trust me, between the surgeries, the chemotherapy and the radiation, this is one road you don’t want to go down. But, cancer is doable. It’s a nasty thing but the biggest thing is people getting together like this to support people like us.”

“And I can’t thank each and every one of you that takes the time to open your wallet, to do the research, to come out here and support us, because it is helping. I’m a true testament to that. I am here today, alive, because of the research. One year prior they would never have found the small little bit of cancer that had already gone to a lymph node and was heading out to the rest of my body to do who knows what. So I hope you give yourselves a big hug from me, because I just can’t thank you enough for my life and for your time. So, rock on to pink!”

Following the last of the speakers breast cancer survivors took to the concourse at the top of the City Hall stairs to be recognized for their success in fighting and beating the disease. And then something completely unexpected by organizers of the run occurred. Members of the George family of Prince George, equipped with several drums, also ascended the steps and sang a song for the gathering.

And then they led the procession of survivors and other participants over to the start/finish banner at George and Patricia and the Run for the Cure was underway. I asked members of the George family why they had turned out, performed and then helped get the walk underway. They said they have lost a number of family members to various forms of cancer and “just decided to come out and support those fighting this terrible disease.”