Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 19, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Outside of City Hall, a sea of pink T-shirts is gathering for a photo.

Clutching an enormous pink ribbon, city councillors, administrators, volunteers and the mayor are milling about on the steps, fidgeting uncomfortably in too-small pink getups. But no one is complaining.

Volunteer Donna Nash, right, directs elected officials, administrators and fellow volunteers for a photo shoot outside Yellowknife City Hall last week. The shoot was meant to promote Run for Our Lives, a breast cancer fundraiser that aims to raise $200,000 this year. - Adam Johnson/NNSL photo

They are all here for a reason: to promote the CIBC Run for Our Lives, the breast cancer fundraiser that is scheduled to jump off the starting line Sunday, Sept. 30 at St. Patrick high school.

"It's a great way to involve the city," said volunteer Patty Olexin-Lang of the photo shoot Sept. 10.

After the shoot, council declared the week of Sept. 24-30 Wear the Braid for Breast Cancer Week. The move drew applause from the small army of pink-shirted audience members in attendance.

Since 2005, the run has raised over $285,000, 75 per cent of which has been spent on northern initiatives.

"Breast cancer is a growing concern in the North," said Olexin-Lang, "We want to make sure the money we do raise stays in the North."

This money goes toward four main concerns.

The first is a "patient navigator position" at Stanton Territorial Hospital, a dedicated person meant to be a helping hand in the process for recently diagnosed breast cancer patients.

The second is a co-ordinator for the breast cancer action group - a half-time position meant to work on educational and awareness programs. The third is an endowment fund to buy equipment for the hospital. Right now, the organization is eyeing a digital mammogram machine, at a cost of $600,000, though that could change.

"By the time we raise that amount, there might be something newer out," said volunteer Donna Nash.

Last, but not least, is research.

While the group's numbers keep growing, volunteers are hoping to make this year a record-breaker.

"My personal goal is $200,000," said Nash.

Communities involved in this year's run include Fort Smith, Hay River, Norman Wells, Inuvik, Fort Simpson and Yellowknife.

Team registration takes place Friday, Sept. 28 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at Diamond Plaza. Individual registrations can be made from Sept.24-28 at CIBC, at Diamond Plaza Sept. 28, or at St. Pat's on the day of the run.

Starting at 1:30 p.m. the event is a one, three, or five kilometre walk or run.