Cancer race promises ‘whole sea of pink’

The fourth Susan G. Komen Eastern Washington Race for the Cure will come to Spokane on Sunday. Here’s a sneak peek.

When and where: Begins at 9 a.m. Sunday in front of the Spokane Convention Center, 334 West Spokane Falls Blvd. Survivor photo at 8:15 a.m. on the steps behind the INB Performing Arts Center.

The route: A five-kilometer run/walk through downtown Spokane to Browne’s Addition and back, or a one-mile run/walk through downtown, turning around at Monroe Street.

Number expected: About 6,000 walkers and runners; between 500 and 600 are cancer survivors.

Cost: $25; late registration, $35.

Best places to cheer people on: The starting line at the convention center. In front of the Spokane Club and Spokane Masonic Center on West Riverside Avenue. The Browne’s Addition roundabout at Pacific Avenue and Cannon Street.

History of the race: Nancy Goodman Brinker promised her sister Suzy Komen to raise awareness about breast cancer and find a cure. Suzy died at 36, and her sister established a foundation in her name in 1982. There are now races in 100 cities, and $1.2 billion has been raised for cancer research, awareness and treatment.

Registration information: Do it online until noon today at race.komenspokane.org. Register in person at the 2009 Women’s Show at the convention center from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and beginning at 7 a.m. Sunday.

Weather forecast: More sunny than cloudy. AccuWeather predicts the high at 67, the low at 44.

Why it matters: Stephanie Aden, a breast cancer survivor who is working on the race says, “This matters because we all know someone who has had breast cancer. We have mothers, wives, daughters. It is important to see how many survivors are out there. To see a whole sea of pink, it’s powerful. It’s a show of support for those who have survived and a show of respect for those who didn’t.”

More information: Go to race.komenspokane.org or (509) 315-5940.