Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 17/05) - The staff at the CIBC in Iqaluit wanted everyone to "think pink" leading up to the annual Run for the Cure.

Pink was on many minds, as the determined fundraisers gathered $19,000 to research a cure for breast cancer last month.

"We had awesome support from the community," explained CIBC branch manager Erin Schoening.

From Sept. 12 to 16, the staff at the CIBC wore pink to work every day. Most of the staff have participated in other years, so their pink-themed wardrobe grows each year.

More than 100 people met at the CBIC and took the bus to Sylvia Grinell Park, where they were able to choose between a one km and a five km course.

The group raised $19,000, $1,000 short of their goal. Last year, they raised $13,400.

In addition to sponsors and donations from businesses, they sold "think pink" bracelets and T-shirts from previous runs.

"We've been doing this for five years, and it touches everybody," said Schoening.

Pink T-shirts and pink bracelets didn't scare men away from joining in on the fundraising, according to Schoening. In Iqaluit, real men do wear pink.

The biggest winner of the run was Denise Doyle. As a breast cancer survivor, she led the run. Then, she placed first in fundraising, and won a trip for two anywhere Canadian North flies.

The pink clothes, banners, bracelets and posters are all stored away. The staff are waiting for next June, when the pink army again begins to invade the streets of Iqaluit.