Hundreds Run for Breast Cancer Awareness in Cedar Falls

Young and old turned out to run and raise money for breast cancer awareness the weekend.

Saturday was the sixth annual Pink Ribbon Run through downtown Cedar Falls. The event raises money, support and awareness for the fight against breast cancer through Beyond Pink TEAM, a local breast cancer coalition. About 600 people participated in the chilly morning jaunt, according to the Cedar Falls-Waterloo Courier.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Patch is highlighting the local events, activities, people and programs doing their best to support the cause.

An estimated 226,870 women and 2,190 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, and 39,510 women and 410 men will die from the disease this year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer behind prostate cancer, and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths behind lung cancer, according to the institute.

Read more: Think Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness Events in Cedar Falls

The Pink Ribbon Run was expected to raise $20,000, KWWL reports.

Some people came out to the 3.1 run to support others, such as Christine Bauman, a University of Northern Iowa professor who died this spring. Others had their own stories, such as Tina Wendel, a cancer survivor, the Courier reports.

Tina Wendel of Sumner wore 20 strands of bright pink beads around her neck. Each one represented a year that she continued to live after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

"This event is so heartwarming. Breast cancer touches so many. Everyone knows someone or knows someone who knows someone whose had breast cancer," said Wendel, who brought several of her boot camp class students to the walk.