Thousands Race For Breast Cancer Survivors, Victims

INDIANAPOLIS -- In spite of dreary, rainy weather, more than 43,000 survivors and supporters turned out for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the 25th in Indianapolis.

A pink sea of support filled the race route on the Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis campus Saturday morning.

All of the participants had one goal in common -- a world without breast cancer.

"We want to show everybody how strong we are -- that we looked cancer in the face and we beat it and moved on," said Nancy Lawton.

The annual race refreshes courage and hope, connecting survivors, family and friends.

It's very emotional, very emotional," said Sherry Johnson, a breast cancer survivor.

"When you run, you see, 'in celebration of,' and, 'in memory of,' and these women are very young," said Erin Fisher, who was running in support of her mother. "I don't think you realize how young you can get breast cancer. So, it's great you make people aware of it."

For those who win the cancer fight, getting to wear pink -- a color reserved for breast cancer survivors and victims -- is a triumphant victory.

Laura Woods couldn't run last year. She was fresh out of surgery following breast cancer just two weeks before the race.

Woods is now cancer-free and wore pink for the first time.

"Strangers come up to you and give you their support," Woods said. "It's just an amazing feeling."

The winner of Saturday's race, Jake Quagliaroli, also truly ran for a cure.

"I've got a lot of friends. My best man, his mom and his aunt and one of their neighbors all just in the past six months came down with breast cancer," Quagliaroli said. "(They're) fighting through and going through chemo right now."

Preliminary figures indicated donations from this year's event are up 41 percent over last year. Race officials said they expect this will be a record-breaking year, meeting a $2.5 million goal.

"It's just amazing to see the support this city gives. It's just wonderful," said Cheri Gianakos, a cancer survivor.

About 75 percent of the money raised Saturday will go to treatment, screenings and breast cancer research in Indiana. The rest will support a grant and research programs.