A sea of people dressed in pink flooded Toronto’s subways.
They were on their way to raise more than $2.9 million to fight breast cancer.
Runners across the country raised an estimated $18 million, according to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Dr. John Irish of the Canadian Cancer Society thanked the crowd of 10,000 gathered at the University of Toronto’s downtown campus for the local CIBC Run for the Cure on Sunday, Oct. 4.
“When you cross the finish line today, you will have completed a huge milestone that means something different for everyone. But for us at the Canadian Cancer Society, the end of the run is just the beginning,” Irish said.
He said there are more cancer survivors now than any other time in history.
“Tomorrow we will continue to fund life-saving science, continue to fund clinical trials that bring new hope, continue supporting people affected by breast cancer every step of the way, and push for public policies for more effective and accessible screening,” Irish said.
He led the thousands in a brief moment of silence.
Karen Rossetti said she was “humbled and honoured” to stand before the crowd.
Rossetti said she originally joined 12 years ago as a supporter.
“Seven years ago, that changed when I graduated to a pink shirt, a milestone no one wishes for,” she said.
Rossetti said she had no symptoms or family history when she was diagnosed after a routine checkup.
She said that 18 months after her diagnosis, her sister Laurie was also diagnosed and had a double mastectomy.
Rossetti said she was “beyond grateful to share” that both she and her sister are now in remission.
“Whether you’re currently battling, recently diagnosed, carry the gene, are walking for someone who has passed, or celebrating survivorship, we are stronger together,” she said.
Rossetti urged the crowd to get tested and to advocate for their health.
She said her team, Team Belletti, raised a lifetime total of nearly $54,000.
“Thank you to all our family and friends. Thank you for being on our team. You are the best medicine all of us breast cancer survivors could have asked for. Thank you,” Rossetti said.
Jelena Alexander ran the five-kilometre run with her husband, and said it was wonderful to see such a crowd.
“Especially the ranges of ages. They were running, these little kids, whizzing by us.”
Alexander said the event was for a good cause.
“Everyone’s touched by cancer. We lost a really close family member a few months ago to cancer. We’ll support it any way we can,” Alexander said.
