Humor, hope, courage
<p>Teacher Nancy Mueller, pictured right, led Winton Elementary School students as they danced and stretched to Gloria GaynorÕs Ô70s disco hit, ÒI Will Survive,Ó Sunday on the North Idaho College campus. Mueller and the students led participants in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure through a lively warm-up session before the 5K run and 1-mile walk. Pictured left, Nathan Spellman, 8.</p>
<p>Surrounded by family and friends, cancer survivor Renate Kljavin approaches the finish line of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, hel Sunday on the North Idaho College campus in Coeur d'Alene. From left: Monica Rozier, Kljavin, Amy Kobrick and Nicole Rozier.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - The seriousness of the cause is balanced with humor, hope and courage each year at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Coeur d'Alene.
And there is always lots of pink.
The 12th annual event, held Sunday on the campus of North Idaho College, was no different.
Along with the customary pink T-shirts, balloons, ribbons and flowers, there were kids with pink mohawks, toddlers with pink cowboy boots, grandmas with pink sunglasses - even an English mastiff wearing a hot pink tutu.
"It's great to see the spirit that's out there," said Tiffany Moe, this year's race chair. "I'm happy we had the turnout we did."
The 5K fun run and 1-mile walk, a fundraiser to support breast cancer patients and survivors and breast cancer research, attracted 2,300 registrants this year.
As always, teams turned out with T-shirts emblazoned with ironic names that put a silly spin on the nature of the disease - "Boo Bees," "Walkers for Knockers," "Save the ta-tas," and "Breast Friends."
The family event draws people of all ages, many whose lives have been touched by breast cancer, and some who simply want to support the cause.
"I can't imagine what it is like to have breast cancer, but I watched my sister go through chemotherapy and radiation," said Sandra Kegley of Coeur d'Alene. "It's not an easy thing. We need better cures."
Kegley's sister and a cousin are both survivors.
Donna Harrington of Rathdrum has participated in Race for the Cure every year since her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"That was a bad year for our family. In the same year, we found out my father had colon cancer and my mother had breast cancer," Harrington said.
Harrington's father died 12 years ago. Her mother, Bonnie Anderson, an 11-year survivor, was with her Sunday at the local event.
Anderson said when she was first diagnosed with the disease, she wasn't going to do anything to treat it.
"Then I decided the Lord wasn't ready to give me up," she said.
So Anderson didn't give up.
She said she supports Race for the Cure because she hopes a cure is found. She shows up for the race because she wants others to know they can get through it.
"You have to give others hope," Anderson said.
Heather Looney, a representative from the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure's Dallas headquarters, said 75 percent of the funds raised will remain in North Idaho to support breast cancer patients. The remaining 25 percent will be sent to the national organization to support research.
Prior to race day, individuals and teams had raised $19,238. Last year at this time, they had raised $30,000.
Volunteer organizers said they think Race for the Cure, like other nonprofit efforts in the region, is feeling the pinch of a sluggish economic recovery.
The 5K runners with the fastest times were Karl Haakenson in 17 minutes, 38 seconds; and Linda Daily, 18:07.
Information: http://www.komencda.org/