About 13,000 people are expected to gather at the Bricktown Ballpark on Saturday to participate in the largest race for breast cancer in Oklahoma. Participants of the ninth annual Race for the Cure will run up to five miles to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The festivities are hosted by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and are scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.

Lorna Palmer, executive director for the Central Oklahoma Affiliate of The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, said the main goal of Race For The Cure is to raise awareness for young women to do self breast exams and to tell them that early detection is the best way to prevent the disease. Prevention can make all the difference in saving someone's life, she said.

Palmer said this year the foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

"The first race took place in 1994," Palmer said. "There were only a few hundred people there. Every year since then has seen an increase in participants. This year more than 10,000 already signed up and we are expecting roughly 13,000 people."

Palmer said more than 500 breast cancer survivors from all over Oklahoma will be participating in the race. The foundation honors survivors, she said.

Kelly Perry, Zeta Tau Alpha philanthropy chairwoman, said the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is the sorority's national philanthropy. About 145 sorority members will be participating in Race For The Cure because it is the main fund-raising event for the sorority's philanthropy, she said.

"We are doing a lot of volunteer work for the event," Perry said. "We've been helping at the registration office at 50 Penn Place. As a sorority, we're setting up Friday night and helping with registration Saturday morning before the race. We will also help with cleaning up the area afterwards."

Perry said ZTA provides all breast cancer survivors with a pink shirt and hat to wear during the race. The sorority members are also providing a balloon arch at the starting line for the participants to go under and will be de-thorning roses to give to the survivors when they cross the finish line, she said.

"This makes the survivors easy to spot," Perry said. "It's a big deal for these women who have survived the disease, so we want to give them something special to remember."

Lacey Flick, ZTA junior, said this will be her third year to participate in Race For The Cure.

"Race For The Cure brings more awareness to the community," Flick said. "The disease affects everyone around it. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by breast cancer. It's a good experience to attend and it's neat to see all the survivors. We are more than willing to take the time to support these women."

Nancy Brinker established the foundation in 1982, Palmer said. Brinker established it in memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died of breast cancer at the age of 36, Palmer said. The foundation raises money for three different groups that provide low- or no-cost mammograms to the medically underserved, she said.

"It's a sense of sisterhood and community for survivors," Palmer said. "It also gives those who are still battling breast cancer hope because they can meet someone who has made it through and has lived to tell their story. It's very comforting for these women to see proof that there is still hope for them to be survivors as well."

Palmer said anyone who is interested in attending can register the morning of the race for $25.

DETAILS

Event:

Race for the Cure

When:

8:30 a.m. Saturday

Where:

Bricktown Ballpark
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