More Than Pink: Nearly Half A Million Raised for a Cure
By: Julie Poucher Harbin, Senior Writer, DCI
This year, due to precautions related to COVID-19, the Susan G. Komen® NC Triangle to the Coast's 24th Annual Triangle Race for the Cure was held as a virtual ‘Race Where You Are’ experience.
Instead of spring, when the event typically takes place, it was nearly fall — September 12.
Participants enjoyed a scavenger hunt, a dance class, and an inspirational event-day program. All received participant swag bags that included DCI-branded visors and many other goodies they would have typically picked up at event-day booths.
Presented locally by Duke Cancer Institute for the 19th year in the event's 24-year history, participants and donors raised $464,524.75; keeping the passion and the purpose of the event moving forward despite the challenges of the virtual format.
Team DCI co-captains Susan Dent, MD, FRCPC, a DCI medical oncologist, associate director of Breast Cancer Clinical Research, and co-director of Duke Cardio-Oncology, and Sarah Sammons, MD, a DCI medical oncologist and assistant professor of Medicine, each taped videos [WATCH Dr. Sammons' video & WATCH Dr. Dent's video] to inspire the runners and walkers. The nine-member team raised $3,445 — 14th on the fundraising leaderboard.
The top 25 individual participants (by dollars raised), included Sammons (number 10), who said she raced for her mom, her patients, and a cure. DCI cancer thrivers Elizabeth Levene and Karen Warrick — race regulars — were also tops on the leaderboard.
Dent, who raised several hundred dollars for the cause, rounded at Duke University Hospital on September 12 decked out in a pink, purple and white light-up "wig" (see above photo) and a pink feather boa; no doubt raising the spirits of and surprising the cancer patients she checked in on.
"Today I am walking for the Susan Komen Race for the Cure while doing rounds at the hospital. Thanks to all of those individuals who have raised funds to help us improve lives and find a cure for breast cancer!" she posted on Twitter, along with a colorful selfie.
CIRCLE PHOTO (TOP): The Durham Sports Commission team shared this view of sneakers on the move to Race for the Cure. The faces that went with the sneakers were clad in masks.
