Thousands Run For Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure Event At Dodgers Stadium
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Thousands participated in the 19th annual Susan. G. Komen Race for the Cure event at Dodger Stadium Saturday morning.
The race celebrated breast cancer survivors, honored those who lost their battle to the disease and raised money to help save lives in Los Angeles County.
According to officials, about one in eight women will battle breast cancer in her lifetime, however, if the disease is detected many lives can be saved.
More than 10,000 runners took part in the race.
KCAL9's Louisa Hodge spoke with Blake Leeper — the first American double amputee headed to the Rio 2016 summer Olympics — before the race kicked off.
Leeper, who has worn prosthetics since he was 9-months-old, explained he ran the race to honor his grandmother, who is a breast cancer survivor.
Hodge also spoke to many participants in the race including Kate Linder (Esther from "Young and the Restless") who ran with several actors from the popular soap.
"I don't know anyone that either doesn't know someone who has breast cancer or they have it in their family. I don't know one person," Linder said.
CBS2's Pat Harvey led the "Circle of Promise" alongside Carmelita Jeter, which was intended to motivate and empower the black community to get active about their breast health and get routine cancer screenings.
To date, Susan G. Komen Los Angeles County has raised over $10 million for community-based grants that will provide funding for breast cancer diagnostic services, educational programs, psychosocial support and patient navigation.
Participants also took part in the survivors victory march, opening ceremony festivities, the 10K race, and ran or walked in the 5K challenge.
In addition to Pat Harvey, many CBS2 and KCAL9 personalities also took part. Anchor Sandra Mitchell, who is a breast cancer survivor, was there along with Sylvia Lopez, Elsa Ramon, Evelyn Taft, Lisa Sigell, Sharon Tay and chief meteorologist Josh Rubenstein.
CBS2 and KCAL9 are proud media sponsors for the race.
