Sea of pink raises funds to battle cancer
<p>Ryan Dudley of Coeur d’Alene matched pink with a Darth Vader mask for Sunday’s race. Dudley and his wife, Michelle, join the Race for the Cure every year to support Susan G. Komen.</p>
<p>Wendy Medina (left) and Mikki Stevens, both of Coeur d’Alene, cheer on racers before they reach the finish line of Sunday’s 5k Race for the Cure at North Idaho College.</p>
<p>Judey Brown of Coeur d’Alene waves a large pompon while she cheers on racers.</p>
<p>Marlea Carle and her son, Alex, walk to help find a cure for breast cancer. Carle was diagnosed early this year and is currently cancer free.</p>
COEUR d’ALENE — North Idaho College was positively pink on Sunday.
That's when the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure Coeur d’Alene took place, raising money for cancer patients and research to find cures for breast cancer. Seventy-five percent of the money raised here stays here, organizers said, and the other 25 percent goes toward research.
NIC was awash in a sea of pink throughout the campus as racers and supporters gathered for the 5k and 10k races. The song “Roar” by Katy Perry blasted through the speakers at the starting line. During the chorus, the crowd sang along, “I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire, 'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar.”
The atmosphere was filled with hope and love Sunday. Hilarie Engle, Susan G. Koman executive director for Idaho/Montana, said the city of Coeur d’Alene has been a tremendous help for the cause.
“The people of Coeur d’Alene are awesome,” Engle said. “They are all out here in their pink showing support.”
Marlea Carle of Coeur d’Alene wore pink to the race along with her family support system. Carle recently finished chemo that followed a bilateral mastectomy in March. The Coeur d’Alene woman is among the younger of the breast cancer survivors at only 41 years old.
Carle said when she found out in February she had breast cancer she was not terrified; she knew she had a battle and would have to win it.
“I just didn’t have time to worry about the things that didn’t matter,” Carle said. “Cancer seems to make you see what’s really important.”
Carle said life and raising her two young sons was too important to let fear or anger about her diagnosis take over her life.
“Life is just different now. It takes on a whole new meaning,” Carle said. “I just feel very fortunate I had the support village I had with my parents, family and friends.”
Among those who joined the race to show support Sunday was Mikki Stevens, who founded the Red Hot Mamas 25 years ago. Stevens waved pom pons and danced for the runners as they crossed the start and finish lines.
“We love to get out and support the community,” Stevens said. “This is just so much fun seeing everyone and making them smile.”
As participants crossed the finish line they were met with cheers and hugs from the crowd. Triumph was in the air.
After the race everyone was all smiles as the survivors met on stage for the Survivors Photo.
About 40 women and one man posed for the picture. All of them had battled cancer and won.
Carle put the cancer battle in perspective.
“I’ve been feeling pretty strong about this through my journey,” Carle said. “I have cancer. It doesn't have me.”