More than 15,000 runners, supporters and breast cancer survivors gathered Saturday at the LSU Old Front Nine for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
This is the 17th year Race for the Cure has been serving East Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes, and it’s the fifth year the University has hosted the event.
“LSU serves Race for the Cure very well and has been accommodating to our needs,” said Baton Rouge Affiliate President Angela Miller.
In addition to the accommodations provided by the University, Komen set up an exclusive tent for breast cancer survivors at the race.
The tent, sponsored by Zeta Tau Alpha sorority nationally and run by the University’s chapter locally, provided breakfast and small gifts to the survivors as a way to show support.
As with all Komen Races for the Cure, a 5k run began at Nicholson Drive Extension and Ceba Lane, traveled through campus along Dalrymple Drive then West Lakeshore Drive, and finished on Nicholson Drive Extension.
The Baton Rouge Komen affiliate localized Race for the Cure to Louisiana by holding a jambalaya competition to determine the best jambalaya chef. Forty teams participated in this additional fundraising effort to contribute to the $2.8 million raised locally.
“It is an element of Race for the Cure,” Miller said. “It is also a way to provide a festival atmosphere and is fun to participate, as well.”
Miller said raising money for breast cancer research is important because Louisiana leads the nation in deaths caused by breast cancer.
Loy James, Baton Rouge resident and breast cancer survivor, has been coming to Race for the Cure for 20 years.
“I come because I’m a survivor, my mother is a survivor and dear friends are survivors,” James said.
Samantha Bates, graduate student at the School of Social Work, began coming to Race for the Cure four years ago as a way to show support for her grandmother. She started a team for Phi Mu sorority, which grew from 52 girls last year to 70 this year.
“Getting more girls means we are committed to do doing something about breast cancer,” Bates said. “It is the smallest difference I can make all year.”
The event began with a one-mile fun run for supporters of all ages who were not registered to compete in the 5k race.
With a one-mile fun run, the 5k run and walk and the jambalaya competition, survivors, runners and supporters concluded the event with a parade and a celebration for the survivors.
The celebration included awards and a performance by Rani Whitfield, also known as the Hip Hop Doc. He performed a song he made specially for the Race called “Pretty and Pink.”
Miller said she has a passion to find a cure because she has had seven family members affected by breast cancer, and Susan G. Komen is committed to finding a cure for breast cancer.
“The treatment is so barbaric,” Dana Cates of Baton Rouge and member of the Real Men Wear Pink team said. “It is imperative we find a cure.”
