Runners and walkers of Delaware County had many reasons to participate in Saturday's 14th Annual Komen Indianapolis Race for the Cure. Some students at Ball State have been directly affected by the disease, and some of the money raised will help fund programs such as "Reaching Out," a community effort to help medically underserved women in Delaware County receive breast health information and screening services.
Junior Jennifer Taylor originally chose to walk in the event because it was for a good cause -- then she got an even better reason to participate.
"I had just decided last year to participate and planned on doing it again because it's a good cause and a nice time to spend with my mom," Taylor said. "But this year my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer and is going through chemo now, so it had a personal story for us because now we know someone affected by breast cancer."
Taylor also said she couldn't believe all of the people affected by the disease. Taylor said she was struck by how many people were walking in memory or in celebration of someone.
"It used to be when you had cancer you were just waiting your time, and now we're seeing more and more survivors with their health back," she said.
Junior Ashley Vaughn also had a personal reason to participate in the event. Vaughn's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago and has been in remission for more than eight years. Vaughn said the day went great, and she's impressed with how much awareness is out there now compared with ten years ago.
"A lot more young adults are becoming aware of it because it is becoming common, and they are realizing that we could get it," Vaughn said.
Race for the Cure is the only event that Vaughn and her mom have participated in to support breast cancer, but they are thinking about participating in a longer event in Chicago in September, also sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
The foundation raises money for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment. Some of the money raised from Saturday's event will stay in central Indiana to help medically underserved women in Delaware County. The "Reaching Out" program will receive a $47,000 Komen grant for the third year in a row to provide women with breast cancer awareness, free clinical breast exams and, when qualified, free mammograms.
One and a half million people are expected to participate in the Race for the Cure series in over 100 U.S. cities and three foreign countries in 2005, all to raise money and awareness for breast cancer.
"It's just a huge sea of people, and when you look behind you to see where you've been, you just see people," Taylor said. "And that's pretty cool."
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