Around Debbie Fassino’s neck were eight strands of pink beads, one for each year since her nine-month bout with breast cancer.
Two separate lists were taped to her back: one that read “I Race in Memory of …” and another that read “I Race in Celebration of …”
The former list was much shorter than the latter, signifying the strides made in breast cancer awareness, detection and treatment. Those three items, she said, have been advanced thanks to breast cancer fundraisers such as Sunday’s 11th annual Chattanooga Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
“It’s just so important to see the power of these people coming together to really make a difference,” said Fassino, 53. “We appreciate everybody and all of their work and their efforts to really make a difference.”
Fassino was one of about 480 breast cancer survivors who participated in Sunday’s event, which included a 1-mile walk/run and a 5k race/walk/run. Overall, 8,776 paid to participate in the race, registration chairwoman Rita Fanning said.
“[The turnout] just means so much to all of the survivors,” she said. “This is who we do it for is our breast cancer survivors.”
Though the total amount raised was not available Sunday, Fanning said $140,000 in donations had been totaled as of Saturday evening.
She said 75 percent of whatever is raised will go to breast cancer organizations in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia. The rest will be sent to the Susan G. Komen headquarters in Dallas for research.
“All the money that we raise goes to fight the disease,” Fanning said.
Breast cancer is sometimes stereotyped as a woman’s disease, but men joined in the fight Sunday, many adorning themselves in pink T-shirts.
Robert Cutrer, who has participated in the race since its inception 11 years ago, wore a pink T-shirt that read, “Real men where pink.”
“It’s been fun to watch it grow,” said Cutrer, McCallie School’s director of physical education.
Teresa Sebourn said she and some of her friends and students came from Tullahoma, Tenn., to participate. The third-grade teacher said she lost a colleague to breast cancer and her mother has survived the disease.
“We had to be a part of it somehow,” she said. “It’s just wonderful to see all these people here raising money in support of a cause that’s so important to us.”
BY THE NUMBERS
8,776: Race participants
48: Breast cancer survivors in race
450-500: Volunteers for race
11: Total number of Susan G. Koman races in Chattanooga
122: Cities around the world that participate in Race for the Cure
Source: Rita Fanning, race registration chair