Thousands Gather for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

Ten-thousand people tied up their running shoes on Saturday, for the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

According to the organization, three-thousand women in Connecticut will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. It says the state has the highest incidence of breast cancer in the country.

"It's a hard diagnosis for any woman to get. It changes your life,” said Gail Marcus, who is president of the Komen Connecticut board. She is also a six-year survivor. "The last day of my treatment I got a call from my mother that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer."

Many of the runners and walkers who created a sea of pink around Bushnell Park, were survivors or knew someone diagnosed with the disease.

"I have cousins up here who had it, my aunt passed away, and my wife passed away from breast cancer eight years ago,” said Cliff Yellen, a former Connecticut resident who now lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Austin Wotherspoon's mom was diagnosed in January.

“It was tough at first but her spirits are high,” he said.

The Old Saybrook teen surprised her by getting 20 of his friends to sign up for Saturday’s race.
"It made me cry. It's really emotional. We have more reason to keep fighting,” said Rita Wotherspoon. 

Many dressed in pink sporting tiaras and tutus.

"It's part of the fun in celebrating life,” said Audrey Yellen Quinlan, of Glastonbury, who wore pink flamingos in her hair.

In the past 22-years they've raised $23-million and hope to raise another $775, 000 this year.

Seventy-five percent of that money goes toward lowering the mortality rate.
“Education, screenings, and treatment services for women in Connecticut who are diagnosed with breast cancer, and the other 25% is invested in research,” said Anne Morris, the CEO of Komen Connecticut.

The cause is near and dear to Morris. She was just nine-months-old when she lost her mother to breast cancer. Back then she says, the diagnosis was a death sentence.

“I do what I do I guess so that other women don't have to live without their mothers, or their sisters, or their wives, or their neighbors or friends,” Morris explained.

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