Kids Race for the Cure with Susan G. Komen in Raleigh, NC

Kids race for the cure with Susan G. Komen in Raleigh, NC
Children race to keep their Mommies healthy

On, June 9th, the Komen North Carolina Triangle organization held its annual Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure.

The event was held on the beautiful campus of Meredith College on Hillsborough Street, just west of the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.

I hadn't planned to be at this event. But since I had heard that there was to be a "Race for the Cure" at Meredith College, I decided I would stop by and see how it was going.

I took the Raleigh Greenway trail that goes from the North Carolina Museum of Art to the Meredith campus. I like to take the back way to events to avoid the crowds. The size of the crowd was estimated at over 22,000.

It was a beautiful warm cloudy day. In fact it was a very warm day in spite of the clouds.

I ended up walking toward the race with a nice lady who was rushing to get to her volunteer position for the eight thirty races. Gail told me a little about her work at helping the clinics stay coordinated with the Susan B. Komen efforts in their care programs. It was just a little bit of information about the funds work here in North Carolina.

Gail and I parted ways near the sign up tables as she needed to get to her station. I needed to decide what kind of pictures would best tell the story of this day.

One thing I noticed was that there were a lot of things going on simultaneously. The organizers had attracted over twenty-two thousand people into the small campus of Meredith College on a sweltering North Carolina day. Now they had to keep them moving; keep them engaged and most important keep the people hydrated.

There was too much happening this day for a single report. I will try to share parts of the whole in the hope my approach makes some sense.

One of the things I noticed this morning was the large number of small children in strollers. Along with these, I noticed the people who were using wheels to "run the race".

Now, to some people, it may not seem to be much for a small child, a stuffed animal, a wheelchair bound person or any other person to be pushed the length of a 5K or a 1K race for the cure.

Except for the stuffed animal, you would be wrong to think this. It was hot. It was very hot. The wait to start the race was long and everyone who wanted to race had to wait. And they had to wait. And because the size of the crowd was so great they had to wait some more.

Well, I have been in many lines with impatient small children and cranky folks in wheelchairs. Waiting in a refrigerated grocery store often brings out the squeals, squeaks and admonitions for treats. The adults get cranky and fidgety too. Waiting in long lines can be something less than pleasant.

Every one of the blessed children and wheelchair bound adults seemed to understand the purpose that was to be served today. There were no whines, peeps or threats from the younger set. The older set did not complain or cajole.

These must be the young children in the verse: "Let the children come to me!" that is so oft quoted. This morning the children were as peaceful as cherubs and twice as cute. The others bound to wheels were peaceful and showed signs of love and hope.

Everyone seemed to know that they were there to honor those who could no be there and to celebrate the lives of those who could. Children were running (albeit with some aid) to honor their mothers, aunts and family. The older wheel chair bound were there to celebrate themselves and honor their daughters, friends and grandchildren.

When the race began, the 5K racers sped out across the start line while the 5K and 1K walkers flowed like a river out between the poles of the starting gate. The huge number meant those at the back of the group had to wait a little longer. But they all joined the race.

The racers disappeared down Hillsborough Street in Raleigh even as runners from an earlier race were beginning to return. Most of the healthiest were back first. They were drenched with sweat from head to toe.

Then an amazing thing happened. Not immediately but over the course of time. From the first returning runner to the last walker, the racers returned in a continuous stream that literally lasted for hours.

The adults in wheelchairs and children in strollers or wagons began to flow back to the starting point.

They were as drenched in sweat as the fastest runners. Yet almost to a person they were smiling and occasionally resting their eyes. The wheeled runners returned with a true sense that they had done something important. In fact they had. And they did it with true grace.

The Susan B. Komen Fund was begun because when Susan was going though her battle with Breast Cancer, much of the resources needed by patients and families did not exist. The fund provides much needed assistance to researchers, patients and families during the search for a cure. Most of the funds are given in small grants with specific goals in mind. It is a different approach to managing the problem of seeking a cure while helping those who are in need now.

My wife and my sister have both gone through multiple bouts in the battle with cancer. Both have sacrificed parts of their bodies to save their lives. My sister will be walking in a three day sixty mile event in Boston this fall for the Susan B. Komen Fund.