KTKA Anchor runs Race for the Cure

From start to finish, participants fueled by sense of purpose

Breast Cancer survivorship continues to grow. Still, there is a long journey ahead. This morning my journey was 5 kilometers as I laced up and joined in the Race for the Cure.

24,000 runners and walkers with one common mission: To cure breast cancer.

James Barker says he was running for Jamie Boyer, but also anyone else impacted by cancer.

"I'm running for Allen and Marylin Taylor, who are no longer with us," Debbie Webster said.

Charity info

The Kansas City Race for the Cure is over, but it's not too late to give. Find out how on RacefortheCure.com.

They ran in memory of friends, or like Travis Fox, relatives. His mom who died of cancer in 1994. She was 42.

Travis designed the logo for the Trail Nerds' Mud Babes, a group I belong to along with my friend Coleen Voeks, who raised money for Travis' team.

"When Travis asked me I thought this would be fun. Then two weeks ago a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now it's personal," Voeks said.

Along the race, groups cheered for the cause or played instruments to entertain the runners. Some handed out water.

All runners had touching stories.

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" My client in London was diagnosed with stage two cancer, and it turns out it's more aggressive than that. I told her I was running, and she said no one had ever done anything like that for her. I'm running as fast as I can," one woman said.

This race waas not so much about speed, but vigilance.

Whether raising money or raising awareness, Voeks says it's working.

"I admit I did my first self-breast exam yesterday in the shower."

Lori Bryan is a four-year survivor.

"I've done the race every year since I was diagnosed so 5th time," she said.

The goal? A 100 percent survival rate, so running in memory will soon be just a part of history.