Breast cancer run, walk raises awareness

  • Published
  • By Sheila Rupp
  • Nucleus journalist
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Amidst looming rain clouds, a rainbow arched across the sky as more than 45 participants clad in athletic attire and running shoes assembled Oct. 5 for the first-ever 5K Fun Run for Breast Cancer Awareness Month here.

Runners and walkers, many adorned in pink, met at the Youth Center at 5:30 p.m. and ran the Zia Park pathway to a turning point and ran back to the start/finish line. The
running course ended up being slightly more than 5 km., but participants didn't seem to mind.

The event was sponsored by the 377th Medical Group Breast Cancer Awareness Committee and the East Fitness Center helped to organize.

Run organizer Capt. Laurie McKenna said, "The overall goal of the run was to raise awareness about breast cancer and to do it in a fun way, and I think we did that."

Participants left with information about breast cancer and promoted good health and fitness in the process of coming out for the fun run. All wore pink ribbons to symbolize breast cancer awareness and survivors wore pink sashes indicating how long they have been a survivor.

There were raffles for T-shirts, caps, gift certificates for the base exchange, pedometers and various other prizes. Each participant also received a pink water bottle filled with water at the finish line. The group of participants was comprised of men and women, babies in strollers, children skipping and there were numerous dogs in attendance. Captain McKenna said she was most excited and amazed by the fact that there were survivors in attendance and that the attitude and atmosphere was so upbeat.

"Everyone had such a huge smile and looked like they were having fun. We couldn't have done it without our volunteers in the medical group, services and the gym," Captain McKenna said.

Maj. Hector Tovar came in with the fastest time of 18:04, with Joe Otero coming in second, with a time of 18:51. The first female finishers were Master Sgt. Angela Casey and Peggy Clews with times of 26:15 and 26:43, respectively. After finishing, many of
the participants ran back onto the course to help motivate others to the finish line.

"I came out because I have several members of my family who have died because of breast cancer, but this run was in honor of my mother, Brenda Bennett, because she is a 22-year survivor," Master Sgt. Angela Casey of the Medical Group said.

Capt. Leslie Karas, the chair of the 377th Medical Group Breast Cancer Awareness Committee, said that she was very pleased with the turnout of people.

"For our first time planning the event, I could not have been happier," Captain Karas said. "People came out just to support the cause."

Plans for next year's event are already underway. Captain McKenna said that next year she would like to have a pink dog bowl for the first dog to cross the finish line as there were five dogs that took to the pavement. She also said that she's looking into the possibility of inviting units who would normally do PT the day the event is held to participate in the run.

In remembrance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month Medical Group staff and volunteers will be on hand at the BX all through October on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to distribute information and answer questions.

There will also be a Breast Cancer Awareness Lunch at the Mountain View Club Oct. 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The lunch will feature speaker Dr. Melanie Royce, a breast cancer specialist from UNM. The cost of the lunch is $5. To RSVP or for more information call 505-846-0954.