Calgarians ‘Run for the Cure’ in 32nd annual event

More than 2,700 Calgarians came together for the 32nd annual Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) CIBC Run for the Cure Sunday.

The run, which happens in 53 communities across the country, is Canada’s “largest single-day, volunteer-led initiative in support of the breast cancer cause,” and is meant to raise funds for research and support programs to help those facing breast cancer.

The five-kilometre run and walk raised over $785,000.

The finish line for the 32nd annual Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure in Calgary on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023. (Tate Laycraft, CityNews image)

This year’s host participant and breast cancer survivor, Claire Galoska, tells CityNews her team is donating all of its money to metastatic breast cancer research, adding the meaning behind the event is “massive” for the city.

“It’s massive for Calgarians. But it’s also massive for people who have someone in their lives that’s had breast cancer, whether that be a friend, colleague, a neighbour, or someone who has one bracket, two genetic mutations, and it’s so important for us to come together to build what it is of our bond,” she said.

Galoska has been participating in the event for a little over a decade, and says this year’s event is “fantastic,” and notes it gets bigger every year.

Her reason for participating initially was because a good friend of hers was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer in her late 20s, which led Galoska to “realize the importance of research for metastatic breast cancer.”

Recently, her reason for participating is because her mother was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer. At the same time, she was diagnosed with stage three ER-positive breast cancer, but was “misdiagnosed.”

“So screening is really, really important. And I spent a lot of my past year going through treatment and meeting with politicians to tell them what my story was. And to see if we can get any change for screening guidelines for young women,” Galoska explained.

Calgarians run and walk in the 32nd annual Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure in Calgary on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023. (Tate Laycraft, CityNews image)

When it comes to dealing with cancer and when receiving a diagnosis, it can be “absolutely life-changing and, and 100 per cent devastating,” but she says there are many supports out there.

“The Canadian Cancer Society definitely has so much support out there and, and even here, they’re chatting about what support that you can access to the community,” Galoska explained.

“But one thing that isn’t really talked about is mental health with a cancer diagnosis, and I think that’s something that we need to continue to talk about it.”

Airel Kim, communications director for the event, says the funds do go to breast cancer research, but adds it supports online support groups for people with breast cancer.

“The run itself serves to create this community for people who do have breast cancer and their loved ones as well,” she said.

“It’s kind of a big deal. And there’s still a lot to be learned about how to treat the disease.”

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in Canada, and one in eight women are thought to be diagnosed with breast cancer throughout their lifetimes.

CCS has invested $62.6 million in breast cancer research across the country over the past five years. The organization says 89 per cent of women and 80 per cent of men with breast cancer survive at least five years past their diagnosis.

Additionally, since 1986, the death rate for Canadians with breast cancer has been cut in half.

“Everyone can come together and we’re all here for the same reason we want better research and not even want but we need better research for breast cancer and all cancers,” Galoska said.