36,500 Walk, Run, Roll To Fight Breast Cancer

Tens of thousands walked, ran, rollerbladed and wheeled themselves through downtown Washington in Saturday’s “Race for the Cure” for breast cancer.

Organizers estimated the throng at 36,500, including breast cancer survivors, the largest crowd in the eight years the annual three-mile race has been run and 5,000 more than last year. Thousands wore pink tags on their backs with names of friends or relatives who fought breast cancer.

“We remember all of those (people) and all of those families that have been touched by this disease, and we’re gonna beat it,” Vice President Al Gore said after running the course.

Other prominent runners or walkers were Gore’s wife, Tipper, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Attorney General Janet Reno and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

Organizers said they expected the race to raise more than $1.2 million for breast cancer research, education, treatment and screenings.