Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

CIBC RUN FOR THE CURE

Kamloops Run for the Cure raises over $64,000 for the fight against breast cancer

Oct 7, 2019 | 4:10 PM

KAMLOOPS — According to the Canadian Cancer Society, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. But thanks to advances in treatment for the disease, the mortality rates associated with breast cancer has decreased by 44 per cent, due in large part to the over $440 million raised through the annual CIBC Run for the Cure, which celebrated its 23rd year in 2019.

“If you’re going to do it — get cancer — do it here in Kamloops.”

It wasn’t a suggestion from Run for the Cure Volunteer Director Starr Web. The breast cancer survivor was merely stating what many women at Sunday’s event already know — the support available for those battling the disease in our city is second to none.

“I was diagnosed in November of 2018 and had a full mastectomy on December 19,” Webb told the hundreds gathered at Sunday’s Run for the Cure. “I’m now completely cancer-free. What I went through in a matter of three weeks, people in the past and in other areas go through in months. Like three or four months for the time they’re diagnosed until the time they have their surgery.”

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This year was Webb’s last as Run Director for the event. She’s been part of the CIBC Run for the Cure for a decade and a half. But in all those years, she never thought she’d experience the run as the one woman in eight who get that diagnosis.

“I had nothing that would show I would get cancer,” Webb said. “I exercise on a very regular basis, I eat healthily. I did all the right things. But I’m a woman, and I’m the one.”

The Run for the Cure has been going strong for 23 years now. For all those years but one, the Sisters of the Heart fundraising team have been raising money and participating in the event here in Kamloops.

“Through that time, we’ve changed, from having youth on our team and having survivors on our team,” Jacki Andersen said. “13 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and our team rallied once again and carried on.”

During that time, Jacki Andersen and the other Sisters are responsible for raising over $100,000, which has helped fund vital research. Andersen says she sees the difference that money makes every year she comes to the Run.

“The treatment advances have been so huge because of the 22 years,” Andersen said. “If this event didn’t continue on, people would stop raising the money. This money is making a difference.”

Nationally, the 2019 Run for the Cure raised over 17 million dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society. For Webb, that money means more help for the next woman in Kamloops who is diagnosed with breast cancer.