The group was small but the smiles were wide as Maidstone CIBC hosted their annual Run for the Cure to raise money for breast cancer research over the weekend.
The group raised about $3,500 with the top earners being Dallas Wichman and Gail Twedt. Wichman put his long hair and beard on the line pledging to cut them if he raised more the $500. His total was $850 and plans are being made to keep up with his end of the bargain.
The sun shone as walkers left the bank to stroll through Maidstone and Defrari-Victoria Park. One of the widest smiles was on the face of Kathy Utri. She was joined on the walk by her family including her husband who took time out of combining to show his support. Utri has endured two surgeries, infection, complications, chemotherapy and radiation over the past year in her fight against breast cancer. Her mammogram in July was clear and even though the standard is to wait five years before saying a person is cancer free, she says she believes she has beaten the disease.
Utri's family doesn't have a history of breast cancer and she tells everyone to go have a mammogram. She is grateful for the support through her ordeal and Sunday was walking strongly outpacing the rest of her family proudly wearing a pink ribbon on her hat.
The walk may not have been as big as some across the country but it was filled with heart and support for the victims of breast cancer and the hope for a cure.
