Thousands of Edmontonians Run for the Cure

EDMONTON- A year ago, Doyle Skolarchuk could not have imagined himself standing in Churchill Square on a sunny Sunday morning, in the midst of a sea of pink boas, tutus, track suits and T-shirts, struggling for words.

But things have changed a lot since July 27, the day Skolarchuk’s wife, Teresa, was diagnosed with breast cancer. On Sunday, two months after the diagnosis, the couple and their three children attended Edmonton’s CIBC Run for the Cure for the first time to experience the event and cheer on “Team Teresa,” a group of friends running on Teresa’s behalf.

“It’s overwhelming to see the support,” said Doyle, looking out at the crowd of people spilling out of the downtown square. “It’s a huge boost to your spirit. It takes your words away. When you are so close to it as I am right now, it’s so good to feel the love, to feel the support, and to know that you’re not alone.”

About 9,300 people took part in the Edmonton Run for the Cure event, and thousands more packed into Churchill Square to kick off the event. Most participants and supporters were decked out in pink, the symbolic colour of the cause, from pink sweat socks to pink hair and pink ribbon tattoos. On their backs, many displayed the names of the women for whom they were running or walking: “My mom.” “Nana.” “Auntie Lennice.” “Melanie.”

Wearing one of the pink T-shirts reserved for cancer survivors, Teresa Skolarchuk said she was moved by all the public support, including the group that was formed in her honour.

“It made me cry. It’s so nice,” said Teresa, who just finished her second round of chemotherapy. ‘It’s hard, because I don’t like to have things done for me. I like to do things for myself.”

One team was made of women taking part in a University of Alberta study focusing on breast cancer prevention.

Self-proclaimed “lab rat” Jacinta Lip said she is happy to take part in both the study and the fundraiser.

“It just affects so many people,” Lip said. “There isn’t anybody who hasn’t been affected by cancer.”

Another study participant, Lisa Boston, said she had an inspiring thought as she got ready for the event.

“I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be something if today’s the day when, with the money raised, somebody finds a cure?’” she asked.

The annual event raised about $33 million countrywide last year. Organizers say the Edmonton event raised more than $1.6 million this year.

Sandra Budjak lost her twin sister, Sharon, to breast cancer nearly two decades ago.

Sandra was diagnosed with the disease last week.

Sandra and her younger sister, Shauna, said they have new and enduring reasons for taking part in the event.

“It’s always an emotional day,” said Shauna, struggling to hold back tears as she looked at her sister. “This year, because of her, it feels different to be here.”

But the women say they are also full of hope.

Since Sharon’s death in 1994, there have been gains in diagnosis, treatment, and awareness of the disease, in part because of the massive amounts of money raised by events like Sunday’s.

Sandra says she is grateful she found the tumour early, when it was still small.

“I’m going to wake up every morning with a smile on my face and see what the day will bring,” she said. “And I’ll be here in a pink T-shirt next year.”