More than 8,000 people braved freezing temperatures Saturday morning to raise nearly $250,000 and celebrate a group of heroes.

Pink balloons flew high and loudspeakers blasted Melissa Etheridge’s “I Run for Life” as breast cancer fighters and survivors warmed up for a one-mile walk and 5K run downtown as part of the annual Race for the Cure.

Suited up in his jogging suit, Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden took the stage and proclaimed March 8 as “Race for the Cure Day” in East Baton Rouge Parish.

“Today’s event is part of a major day because it shows the level of interest and effort in finding a cure for breast cancer,” Holden said.

Holden heightened the crowd’s motivation with his energy and encouraging words.

“We are not defeated in our race for the cure,” Holden said. “We have a lot of champions here today.”

Baton Rouge native Peggy Hoffman said the survivor’s ceremony held special meaning for her as a five-year breast cancer survivor. Hoffman said she is still receiving treatment for inflammatory breast cancer. She said her cancer type is rare and difficult to get rid of because it keeps coming back.

“It has been difficult, but I’m glad they have the drugs available to keep it from getting worse,” she said. “I’m just glad to still be here.”

After the survivors ceremony, participants gathered shoulder-to-shoulder at the starting line to begin the race.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the event’s sponsor, is the world’s largest grassroots group of breast cancer survivors. About 75 percent of Saturday’s proceeds will remain in Baton Rouge to fund research, outreach programs and mammograms, and 25 percent supports national research.

The estimated number of new breast cancer cases this year are 182,460 in females and 1,990 in males, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

Cassey Roy, family child and consumer science senior, said she is lucky her mother and grandmother are breast cancer survivors. Roy’s mother is a five-year breast cancer survivor and her grandmother is a 24-year survivor. To show her support, Roy works as an intern for the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Baton Rouge.

“It’s for an amazing cause. I don’t know why people wouldn’t come out to support the survivors,” Roy said.

Roy’s sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, is a national sponsor for Komen and set up the survivor tent as part of the group’s breast cancer awareness and education philanthropy. Several members of the sorority volunteered with setting up tents and tables at 5 a.m.

Jamie Franklin, marketing freshman, participated in the walk with three of her friends. Franklin said her grandmother’s death caused by breast cancer sparked her interest in getting involved.

“I wanted to volunteer, so me and my friends have been making signs and banners,” Franklin said. “It’s about bringing awareness to the issues.”

Jeff Cutrera, comparative biomedical science graduate student, sported his purple-and-gold gloves and hat during the race. He said a student in the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine initiated the idea of participating.

“I’m not happy it’s this cold, but I am happy to be out here,” Cutrera said.

Baton Rouge resident Judy Edwards is a 10-year breast cancer survivor and has been in charge of the event’s registration for the past 10 years. She said her work helps bring awareness to the one in eight women who have breast cancer.

“To me, that’s more important than the money,” Edwards said.

—-Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]