Kelowna residents will join other Canadians across the country on Sunday, Sept. 30, to glam up in pink and write messages of who they are running for as participants in the annual CIBC Run For The Cure in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
Kelowna will be one of 58 communities in Canada taking part in an inspiring event that raises awareness and funds for breast cancer research, education and awareness programs. It will take place at City Park, starting at 9:30 a.m. with the opening ceremonies.
The Run For The Cure is the largest single day, volunteer led national event in Canada in support of finding a cure and advancing medical treatment for breast cancer .
Locally, a group of dedicated volunteers have invested some 1,500 hours of their time to prepare for the staging of this year’s run.
Volunteer event directors Barb Hoy and Ann Davis hope to see the momentum of fundraising in the community continue as Sunday approaches.
“It is not too late for people to participate and fund-raise for the event on September 30,” said Hoy.
“Every person that comes out on run day is helping increase awareness and funds for the cause.”
Last year, more than 2,000 walkers and runners participated in the one and five kilometre routes, helping raise more than $390,900 in Kelowna, contributing to the $4.76 million generated across B.C. All the proceeds raised in B.C./Yukon will be spent for programs and initiatives in that region.
Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer diagnosed in Canadian women. One in nine Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
In 2012, an estimated 22,700 women in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and there will be an estimated 5,100 who will die from it.
Breast cancer statistics
• Breast cancer continues to be the most common cancer in Canadian women, representing 26% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases in women.
• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women, after lung cancer.
• One in nine Canadian women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime (this means by age 90), and one in 29 will die from it.
• An estimated 3,000 women in B.C. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, and 630 will die from it.
• In 2012, 200 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 55 will die from it.
• The breast cancer mortality rate is the lowest it has been since 1950.
• Overall, breast cancer incidence rates rose from 1983 through the early 1990s, in part because of increased mammography screening.
• The five-year relative survival rate for female breast cancer in Canada is 88 per cent. In B.C., the five-year survival rate is 91.8%, the best of all the provinces.
• B.C. communities staging a Run For The Cure are Kelowna, Abbotsford, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Prince George, Vancouver, Vernon and Victoria.
