Sunday's turnout for the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk at Finlayson Island. (Submitted Photo/Ames Leslie)

By Martin Martinson

Coming Together

Inaugural Battlefords Run for the Cure raises over $3K for breast cancer awareness

Oct 4, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Many people got together over the weekend at Finlayson Island, for the inaugural Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure in the Battlefords.

Robin Speer, who is on the national board of directors for the Canadian Cancer Society, helped organize the event, even outlining the marked trail through the east side of the Island which stretched nearly 4.5 km.

He said they couldn’t have asked for a better turnout for the first year of the event.

“It was a huge success with 50-60 people participating and I think if it didn’t rain, we could have come close to 100,” he said.

“People were excited we were doing an event like this in the Battlefords, it’s really a big-city event they’ve had in Saskatoon and Regina, right up to the major event in Toronto. We thought we have these beautiful, idyllic trails on Finlayson Island and a great strong community… why don’t we do this here to raise awareness and funds in support of those impacted by breast cancer.”

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The organizing committee of Sunday’s Run for the Cure, pictured L-R: Ashlee Babiy of NB CIBC (and her daughter), Claudette Maguire, Charlotte Speer, Robin Speer (Canadian Cancer Society board of directors), Mayor of Battleford Ames Leslie, and Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill. (Submitted photo/Robin Speer)

The result was more than they could have hoped, with approximately $3,500 raised.

“Almost everyone came up after and said ‘Thanks for organizing this,’ and ‘We want to help organize next year, we want to take part and make it bigger and better,’” Speer said.

“They were already talking about getting their entire businesses and families involved and creating teams for the event next year, and I think for us that was really exciting. That was really telling about the strength of the community participation.”

In addition to the individuals who chipped in to make Sunday’s event possible and participate in the run/walk, Speer said the organizing committee would also like to thank the local businesses who came on board, including CIBC, who was the title sponsor, and Pizza Depot in North Battleford, who provided water, juice, and pizza for all following the event.

“It’s all about raising awareness and driving those dollars to continue to improve outcomes in diagnosis, in treatment, and support so those living with and beyond breast cancer have that support,” Speer said.

“When it’s detected early, breast cancer is nearly 100 percent survivable today, so with diagnosis and treatment and support, all those outcomes continue to improve.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1