Cancer Connection run sees higher turnout
- Ellie Ruel
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Runners raise funds for cancer support at 34th annual Beat the Odds race
By Ellie Ruel
Juneau Independent
For Stephanie Harris, who sported a hot pink and chartreuse tutu over her running gear to “give me the power while running,” Saturday’s Cancer Connection fundraiser race was a good way to get out in the sunshine and honor her family members who passed away from cancer.
“This is a family tradition, so we do it every year,” Hoffman said. “It's great, a community event and raises money for good causes.”
Over 400 people walked or ran for cancer awareness during the 34th annual Beat the Odds: A Race Against Cancer event at Kax̲dig̲oowu Héen Elementary School on Saturday. Each participant had the choice of a two-mile walking course or a 5K running course, both of which had to be rerouted due to the Brotherhood pedestrian bridge and Kax̲dig̲oowu Héen Dei trail being closed after record flooding. Runners made their way to Wildmeadow Lane via Riverside Drive to Glacier Highway and walkers looped through the Dimond Park area.
The race is the main fundraiser of the year for local nonprofit Cancer Connection, which provides support and assistance to Southeast Alaskans with cancer. According to board president Sheryl Weinberg, donations, fees, and sponsorships from the race fund services like financial assistance for treatment and travel, support groups, educational opportunities, and an apartment in Seattle where patients can stay while they’re receiving care.
Brandy Hoffmeyer and her friend Sierra Kryzer opted to walk the 5K route. Hoffman is a breast cancer survivor, and said Cancer Connection’s travel reimbursements were helpful to her during treatment.
“Cancer’s expensive,” Hoffmeyer said. “There was one point where I had, like, $50,000 of medical bills on my desk.”
While the spirit of the Beat the Odds race was more focused on supporting those affected by cancer rather than competition, the event was also a chance for the community to get together and run.
Eva Orr, a kindergarten teacher at Kax̲dig̲oowu Héen Elementary School, used the event to blow off steam after the first week of school and support a good cause. She was also proud of making her best race time, finishing the 5K at 29:03. Orr was cheered on by her daughter, Mack, who showed off her gymnastics skills and offered encouragement to all the runners passing the school.
“I wanted to cheer on my mom, but then I just started cheering everybody on,” she said.
According to race director Kym Mauseth, 91 runners finished the 5K route. Cameron Mitchell finished first with a time of 22:01, followed by Daniel Leder at 22:11 and Greta Thibodeau at 22:30.
The event also featured a table from Let Every Woman Know, a nonprofit that aims to raise awareness of gynecological cancers. Mary Wagner handed out flyers with information like Extra Toughs, which is a wellness cohort for current patients receiving treatment and survivors of gynecological or breast cancer. As a survivor herself, Wagner enjoys the opportunity to share resources with other patients, saying that healthcare options have expanded in Juneau since her diagnosis.
“It’s good to get the information out,” Wagner said. “Our motto is to ‘be aware down there.’”
“Cancer doesn’t care if you’re red or blue, what you ate for breakfast, or what you look like,” said Sharon Gaiptman, who handed out door prizes and ran an auction at the end of the event. Gaiptman wore two paper hearts to commemorate loved ones she’d lost to cancer.
Weinberg said the turnout this year was promising, with about 100 more registrants than usual.
“We love the community. It’s a community event,” Weinberg said. “A lot of the people are here because they’ve experienced cancer.”
• Contact Ellie Ruel at ellie.ruel@juneauindependent.com.
