Watch CBS News

Thousands Race For Breast Cancer Cure In Central Park

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- More than 10,000 people -- many decked out in pink shirts -- hit Central Park on Sunday for the 25th annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

The 5K run and walk aimed to raise more than $3 million for breast health and breast cancer research, Linda Tantawi, CEO of Susan G. Komen Greater NYC, told CBS2's Elise Finch.

"Komen is so committed to reducing disparities in access to care, and the funds stay here to help underserved women," Tantawi said.

Tantawi said the funds that are raised in the race stay in the community to fund local breast health programs.

Susan Komen was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1978 at age 33 and died in 1980. Her sister, Nancy Brinker, founded the Susan G. Komen Foundation after promising Komen she would fight to help cure the disease, CBS2's Alice Gainer reported.

"Breast cancer is a very different disease (today)," said Brinker, a breast cancer survivor herself. "It's almost 100 percent curable, very early breast cancer -- and thanks to the work of the Susan Komen (Foundation) working very hard on the ground since 1981, when we started this organization."

Among those participating in the event were Julie Chrisley and her daughter Savannah from the reality TV show "Chrisley Knows Best." Julie Chrisley is, too, a breast cancer survivor.

"It definitely brings into perspective whenever I see all the people who are walking in memory of someone," Savannah said. "So just the fact that I'm going to walk with her and not for her is a huge thing."

Firefighter Rick Galvin, meanwhile, ran in his FDNY gear.

"I do this run because when I was 11 years old I lost my mother to cancer, and the night of her death, I was supposed to be there, and it's something I've regretted ever since that I wasn't there," he said. "So I started to try to figure ways to make it up. And then I started doing runs. And then I started to put two and two together -- my fire department career and the runs -- and I started running in my bunker gear as a way to kind of remember her, but also to inspire others that there's a lot of support for them."

CBS2 also fielded a team of participants that included Meg Baker, Jessica Schneider, Kristine Johnson, Alice Gainer and Matt Kozar.

CBS Race For The Cure
CBS2 was well-represented at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Central Park on Sept. 13, 2015. (Credit: CBS2)
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.