Hundreds run for a cure at 23rd annual breast cancer awareness event

A little rain had nothing on Windsor’s breast cancer survivors.

The 23^rd annual CIBC Run for the Cure breast cancer awareness fundraising event Sunday drew more than 800 people to Windsor’s waterfront despite the gloomy weather. While the event happens every year, the 2019 fundraiser is a little different.

“Now CIBC Run for the Cure is acknowledging metastatic breast cancer as part of the fundraising, which is very important because it needs more attention because it is the only one that can kill you,” said Beverly Thompson, who is currently fighting Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC).

MBC, commonly referred to as a stage five cancer, can be fatal. Despite its median life span of three to five years for those diagnosed, metastatic cancer research receives only five per cent of funds according to a study conducted by the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network.

With the fatal form of cancer being newly acknowledged by the event, hopefuls such as Joan Fowler look towards a cancer-free future for their children.

“We want to get rid of the disease and everything like that. I have a daughter, I have a son, I have a new granddaughter that is going to be born next month. I just want to get rid of the disease so nobody has to go through what we went through,” said Fowler.

For many, the event is about more than raising money.

“The whole experience of going through cancer is something that you can’t go through alone. Although we have the support of our family, it’s crucial to speak with people that understand what you’re going through. It’s hard for family to relate and identify and that’s why I needed to find these women,” said Alycia Tomalty, a breast cancer survivor and mother of three.

Thompson, Fowler, and Tomalty’s hopes are all coming true this year, as the event has brought together hundreds of peoples to raise over one hundred thousand dollars to put towards finding a cure for all forms of breast cancer.