'Race for the Cure' draws thousands, sparks hope

SEATTLE - They came by the thousands to "Race for the Cure" down the Alaskan Way Viaduct on Sunday morning.

Some cried, some cheered - and everyone was encouraged by the annual event to raise money for breast cancer research.

Cheryll Davis stood at the finish line to cheer everyone through with chants of "Go, go, go!"

Like hundreds of others in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Davis fought breast cancer - and won. She and others sported the pink proudly.

She said she came "because all of this overwhelming warmth, plus it's a cause."

"I want a cure," she says. "I want prevention, but I want a cure."

Because of events like this, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has invested more than $1 billion in fighting breast cancer and finding a cure. In fact, it's the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors.

This year's Race for the Cure comes just as the Puget Sound affiliate of the foundation says it's seeing a huge increase in women in need of no-cost health care services.

So it just gave more than $2 million to local organizations helping breast health and cancer needs.

The foundation and its activities also provide a focal point for many survivors and families of breast cancer victims.

"Frankly it gives me inner support because that's the part that's missing," Davis says. "You've got to put on a face and march forward but that inner portion is really important."

While many who took part in this year's walk survived breast cancer, others were there to tell the stories of their loved ones who were stricken by the disease.

"She had this beautiful aura about her," said one participant of her cousin, who died of breast cancer. "She was beautiful inside and out all the time."