Numbers drop in annual CIBC Run for the Cure

By Shelbey Hernandez

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite fewer participants and a lower total raised, organizers of the local 17^th annual CIBC Run for the Cure are happy with the turnout.

Last year, the Windsor event had 1,600 participants and raised over $200,000. This year, on October 5 at the Riverfront Festival Plaza, those numbers dropped with $187,000 raised and over 18 per cent fewer participants.

The CIBC Run for the Cure is meant to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds for breast cancer research. In 64 locations across Canada, the event raised $25 million and had 127,000 participants this year. The money raised through this event goes to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

CIBC has been a title sponsor for the CBCF. CIBC’s involvement began in 1992, when some employees participated in the walk to support a friend who had breast cancer. Since then, CIBC has raised more than $36 million for the cause.

Joceline Trepanier, 42, is a three-time breast cancer survivor. She has lost family members and friends to breast cancer, including her mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her aunt, who is a 10-year breast cancer survivor, was with her at the event. Trepanier wore a sign on her back with pictures of those who died from breast cancer in her family.

The three-time cancer survivor has been attending the walks for 16 years. She was diagnosed in 2008, had her second surgery in 2010 and her third surgery one year after that. At the event, she stood on stage and told her story.

Trepanier said nothing will stop her from attending the walks.

“I will attend these walks no matter what, whether I’m just getting out of surgery because I’ve done that (before) …,” said Trepanier. “I don’t care if I have to walk (or) crawl, I will be here until I can’t do it anymore.”

The Breast Cancer Society of Canada estimates that more than 24,000 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,000 of those women will die from it this year. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death for women in Canada and the most common cancer among women, according to the Canadian Cancer Society

For Jillian Parent, the winner of Miss Tecumseh pageant, breast cancer awareness is very important. Her mother is a nine-year breast cancer survivor. Since her mother was diagnosed, every year her and her family have held fundraiser events. To date, they have raised $70,000. This was the first walk she attended.

At the walk, she and Miss Western Ontario Globe, Vanessa Vargas, were responsible for calling out the winners for certain prizes.

“People should go because you really get a sense of how big Windsor’s support system is,” said Parent. “Survivors and people with breast cancer can see that they are not alone and all of these people are here to help them at every step of the way and all maintain the same goal of eradicating breast cancer for the future.”

Shayla Barker, a volunteer run director at the event, has been with the committee for 10 years. For four of those years, she was directing the event. She said her grandmother and great aunt are both cancer survivors. Barker said even though there were less people than last year, she isn’t too concerned.

“We are really happy to have strong participation numbers, nearly 1,300 in Windsor, all showing their support for the cause.” Barker said.

Although the event is over, anyone who wants to fundraise for the CIBC Run for the Cure can still do so until Oct. 31. As for anyone who is coping with breast cancer, Trepanier leaves you with this message: “Don’t let anybody tell you you can’t because ‘can’ is a word that’s in cancer. Just scream it out, saying, ‘Yes I can!’”