The Vernon Run for the Cure may have gone national this year, but for many of those who took part, the stories and reasons for taking part in the 1k and 5k walk remain very personal.

More than 750 breast cancer survivors, their families, friends and supporters raised $89,300 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure and took time to remember the passing of those women who lost their battle with breast cancer and to celebrate with those who have survived.

Susan Hamilton is one who is surviving. The mother of four children, all under the age of nine, was diagnosed with breast cancer in the spring. She is fighting back and says her prognosis is good. Her fighting spirit was celebrated Sunday with 26 friends and family who formed Team Ham’s Fans and raised more than $2,000 for the cause.

Long-time friend, Sheila Williams says, “Sue is an inspiration to everyone who meets her. She is the most amazing person. If anyone can beat this she can.”

Hamilton was excited about all the support she has received from her family and friends. She said, “Things are going well. I am so lucky to have all these people supporting me. Support is so important, and so is early detection. If there is one message that I want to get across today it is that women shouldn’t wait until they are 40 to get screened.”

Hamilton has no family history of breast cancer.

Support and public recognition of the need for research, education, and a cure for breast cancer is a relatively new phenomenon. Guest speaker, Nanett Sharma described how in the past the disease was a subject that was largely ignored by the public.

“In those days,” she said, she went through treatment and recovery with four other women. “There was not as much support for us as there is today. We were all visited by survivors like Ruth Schaeffer. Ruth organized the first walk in Vernon 15 years ago. We walked two blocks downtown.”

Teams like Ham’s Fans, made up of friends, families, health-care workers, workplace cohorts and others typically raise about 70 per cent of the money collected at Run for the Cure venues. Three of the four awards that were given following Sunday’s run/walk were team awards.

The CIBC Corporate Spirit Team Challenge Award for the most donations raised by a corporate team was won by PRT Okanagan who raised $7,121.22. The New Balance Women’s Team Challenge Award was awarded to the Curves Dream Team who handed over $1,510.65. The McCain Friends and Family Team Challenge Award for the community team that raises the most in donations went to Bosom Buddies who raised $4,733.

The Determination Award for the individual that raised the most money in support of the Run for the Cure went to Vicki Bacon who collected $2,030.

Dave Williamson, District Branch Manager for CIBC’s Okanagan Region was on hand to welcome local racers to their first year as a member of the CIBC National Run for the Cure. Celebrating their twelfth year as title sponsors, Williamson says the bank is proud of the contributions of CIBC employees. “In 2007 we raised 2.7 million dollars of the 27 million that were raised across Canada. We are hoping to beat that record this year.”

Becoming a national event will result in 5% of net proceeds being directed to support national goals while 95% of the net proceeds raised in the BC/Yukon region remain in our region to support research, awareness, and education programs.

Early numbers indicate that this year 28.5 million dollars were raised by more than 170,000 participants at more than 55 run sites across Canada this year.

For some, Sunday’s event was just a chance to have a pleasant walk/run in support of a worthy cause. Vernon Secondary running phenom Chantelle breezed through the 5k course in 21 minutes and 55 seconds. Others took well over an hour to saunter along with dogs, kids, bikes, and baby carriages enjoying the cool weather and the pleasure of the company of friends.

Greg D’Avignon, board chair, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC Yukon Region summed up the event this way, “This is an event where it doesn’t matter where you place or how long it takes to complete the Run. Just by being here today and helping raise funds, you’ve all become a part of the future without breast cancer.”