As swathes of pink take over major cities, the mission to end breast cancer presses on with people across the nation participating in Races for the Cure. In Central Park, the spectacle of solidarity for the 2025 Komen Greater New York City Race for the Cure was dampened neither by rain nor by spirits this past Sunday, with over $588,000 raised for breast cancer research, advocacy, and support, according to CBS News New York.
This year's New York race marked 35 years of commitment to the cause. Breast cancer survivors, their supporters, and a medley of teams, including the Paramount/CBS team which alone contributed more than $17,000, traversed the park to not only raise funds but also celebrate survival and resilience. "Every dollar we raise is going to help support research, for the future and help people today through our patient care centers, through our educational programs," Stacie Spitzkoff, Susan G. Komen New York executive director, told CBS News New York.
Meanwhile, the upcoming Komen Columbus Race for the Cure is generating anticipation with more than 8,000 runners expected to weave through the streets on the weekend of May 17th. Notably, over $745,000 has already been secured for local breast cancer programming. Participants will have the choice of running or walking a 5K, or embarking on a shorter 1 mile walk, as stated by Spectrum News 1. The event will feature modest adjustments to the schedule, including an added 20 minutes for participants to gather with their groups before the starting pistol fires.
Contributors to both races are hailed as heroes in the push towards a cure, rendering streets lined with cheering supporters and thunderous applause from motorcyclists in "Thunder Tunnels." The sense of urgency in breast cancer awareness is echoed through personal stories, like that of Alison Hall, who shared with participants her personal encounter with the disease at the New York event. "At the age of 32 years old, I was covering a story for Inside Edition about breast cancer. When actor Olivia Munn shared her breast cancer diagnosis, she said, 'I took something called the breast cancer risk assessment test,'" Hall recounted, emphasizing the significance of early detection, as reported by CBS News New York.
For those in Columbus anticipating road closures, be advised that several streets will be closed from 6 a.m. to noon on race day for setup and cleanup, including stretches of W. Long St. and Neil Ave, among others. Thankfully, ample parking is provided at nearby McConnell and Neil Garages at a special rate for race participants. For a complete list of closures and detailed race route, visit Spectrum News 1.
