Yellowknife (Oct 06/04) - It's hard to match the generosity of Yellowknifers -- a fact that was shown once again this weekend.

Hundreds of city residents crowded the gymnasium at St. Pat's high school on Sunday and poured onto the streets for the CIBC Run for the Cure. It was the ninth time the run has been held in the North.

Money raised by the bank-sponsored run supports breast cancer research and relief.

"Every year we break all sorts of records on a per capita record," said MLA Sandy Lee, who was emceeing the event for the fourth straight year.

Every year, the city smashes its own records, as well as southern averages.

In 2002, the run raised $147,000. In 2003, that total went up to $150,000.

It looked as though the $150,000 mark would be where Yellowknife would plateau for 2004 race day figures. But as a city known for its generosity, Yellowknife is accustomed to expecting the unexpected.

This year, Yellowknifers combined to rake in almost $200,000 -- an amount that not only blows away previous figures, but also matches what the territory raised as a whole last year.

"I think it's because of the generosity of Yellowknifers and Northerners," said the CIBC's Ernie Carmichael.

Among the 42 teams was Girl Power -- a team made up of girls from various schools in Yellowknife.

Each year, the team raises the most amount of money, thanks to people like Brooke Harris.

The 13-year-old canvassed door-to-door beginning in August. The effort paid off in dividends, as she collected over $1,300.

That's a lot of donations, she said, since for the most part it was $5 dollars here and $20 there.

Her friend Jill Alain raised the same amount of money for the team.

Harris said they canvassed together and made it a competition to see who could raise the most.

"It's a very good thing. It will help save a lot of people's lives," Harris said about why she supports the run.

And saving lives is what the CIBC Run for the Cure is all about.