The Pink Panters

From its first 5-K in 1983, when 800 people gathered in Dallas, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Series has grown to become the world's largest fund-raising and education event for breast cancer. The organization has raised close to $2 billion for better awareness, improved treatments, patient advocacy, and new research. This year, 1.6 million survivors and loved ones will make their way to the starting line of 140 Komen races on four continents. Runner's World watched more than 40,000 people cross the finish line of the 2010 Global Race for the Cure in Washington, D.C. We saw firsthand that the disease doesn't play favorites. And what we heard was nothing short of inspiring.

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Joanne Duncan (left), 52, Fairfax, VA, survivor, with daughter Anne-Marie, 22

"When I was having chemo [in 2003] I just felt crappy. I was sick and shriveled up and hairless; really the only physical thing I could do was walk. But my goal was to get back to running. For me, running and walking [during treatment] felt like it was what I could still control against a disease that really had just taken over my body." —Joanne

"You can't really do anything when you're on chemo, but mom never missed one of my high-school races even though she had no hair. She'd put on her beanie and come out. She was always very supportive, even though I know she felt terrible. Now, running this race with her makes me feel really lucky, honestly. I see all the girls my age running around with those little bibs on their back that say, "In Memory of Mom." I feel really blessed that I still have my mom around." —Anne-Marie

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Christine Brophy, 46, Montgomery Village, MD, survivor. (She placed tenth among survivors.)

"I try not to think too much about cancer coming back, but every time I go out for a run, I think that I'm keeping the cancer back. [She was diagnosed in 2009.] Or, it makes me feel like even if the cancer comes back, I can beat it if I can still run. At the Komen race that I ran in Chicago, I came in first. I got called up on the stage, and when I went up this woman, who obviously was still in treatment because she was still bald, came out of the crowd and gave me this huge hug. We didn't have to exchange any words. It was just this bond."

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

She Raced 18 Horses in an Ultramarathonand Won

"One of the first questions I asked the surgeon after I had surgery [in 2008] was, 'When can I run again?' For me running was about normalcy, it was about saying, 'To heck with cancer and let's get out there and let's run because I can.' A shorter race like this isn't necessarily a huge physical task, but I think it's still putting one foot in front of the other and still kicking cancer in the pants and saying, 'You're not going to take away my opportunity to move and to experience life and to be out there doing things.'"

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Meghan Ridgley, 32, Vienna, VA. Ran in honor of her mother Catherine Brigers. (Meghan won the women's race in 17:52, her third Race for the Cure victory.)

"As a competitor, I know that sometimes racers won't run a race if they don't feel fit, since they know they're not going to place in the top three or the top 10. But this is a race that I will do if I haven't run in two months or even six months, I will do it no matter what because of the importance of it. My mom just gets so happy seeing me run with her name on my back. I'm not doing it to win a prize; I'm doing it so everyone can see her name on my back."

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Yatzibeth Avila (left), 34, Reston, VA, with coworker Olivia Lopez. Ran in honor of several family members.

"My family has cancer in our DNA—my great grandmother, grandmother, and aunt all died from it, and my mother and my sister had it. It is not if it will happen, it is when it will happen. Honestly, I and other members of my family visit our oncologist more than any other doctor. We're doing all we can to take care of ourselves. Hopefully with this race we will find some cures that are better, because it is devastating to go through cancer and chemo. It's very difficult."

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Danette Wolford (second from left), 41, Westminster, MD, survivor, with friends Cynthia Simpkins (far left), Nicole Friskey, and Karen Nairn (far right), who all ran in support of Danette and in memory of loved ones.

"There were a couple of women who ran past me who were finishing up chemo. It's amazing! I don't think anybody 20 years ago was going to be out doing this at the end of chemo. To me, I'm in the middle of radiation therapy, and the same mental mileage I go through to get out of bed and go for radiation, regardless of how tired I am, is the same kind of mental thing I do when I get out of bed early in the morning to run. I often don't feel like it, it's dark, but I still put on my running shoes and my feet still hit the pavement. The former I know I have to do it because my life depends on it, and the latter I know I have to do it because my life should depend on it." —Danette

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Cindi Beach, 61, Chevy Chase, MD, survivor, with daughter Breanna Becker, 21, and son Brad Becker, 19

"Running this race with my kids makes me reflect back to their ages when I was diagnosed [in 1993]. Back then I thought I wouldn't see them to kindergarten and they'd have no memories of me. But running together today I feel like I've won the battle. I hate to say that because who knows what could happen tomorrow, but I just feel like now we're together, they know me. Hopefully, God forbid, if they ever have to deal with this, they'll be a little braver in doing so. So all of those things go through my mind at these events. I'm not sure if I've ever felt anything more moving to tell you the truth." —Cindi

"Every time we do this race, we finish holding hands. It means one more year that everything is fine, and she's living her normal life, my family's living a normal life. My dad also had cancer so that was a lot of our childhood, and if nothing else, cancer's made us incredibly strong. Everything else can be put in perspective. If you're having a bad day, if you're mad about a bad grade, a bad hair day, it's not cancer." —Breanna

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

The Best Songs to Add to Your Playlist this Month.

"When I ran this race after successfully beating breast cancer the first time [in 1997], I felt like I was out here as a model to everyone else. I always ran with the number of years on my back that I survived and people would run by and say, Awesome, keep going! When I had to run it the next time after being diagnosed [in 2008], it was really sickening. I thought, How could I be back here doing this again? But I just had to accept the fact. That year the race was much more emotional for me. Today, what's special is that I crossed the finish line with my daughter and husband. They reminded me all along, 'You beat it once, you'll beat it again. You're healthy, you're strong, you just have to keep going.'"

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

NYC Marathoner Ran Home After Chemo.

"Running is an excellent outlet. It gives us time to think and clears the mind, it pushes us, and it's healthy for the body. The Komen races also make us think and spread the message about breast-cancer awareness. These events are a lifeline and support system for thousands of women. I can't begin to imagine the number of lives touched while continuing the fight against breast cancer."

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Running in the Cold

"Crossing the finish line was crazy surreal! The symbolism is that everyone finishes, and it really does make me feel like we can beat this cancer. I feel such a huge feeling of belonging with these women, and such sadness that there are so many of us. The money raised and the awareness from these races are the only way this is going to happen."

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Michelle Brann, 40, Charlottesville, VA, with her daughter Loren Swan, 21. Walked in honor of Michelle's grandmother and aunt.

"The energy that day was very positive, what with all of the survivors there. My daughter and I were amazed at the number of young children walking! It underscored the importance of staying active." —Michelle

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Tonya Courts, 44, Elkridge, MD, with friends Jerome Murphy and Janelle Jesse, ran in memory of family and friends.

"We're doing a 5-K, that's a challenge in itself since I really run just for pleasure. And then you've got the survivors out here trying to do the walk or the run. Just to see so many and all types of people running and walking to support breast health, you cannot ask for anything better than this. This would have given my aunt a sense of hope that we're going to find a cure." —Tanya

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Christine Cottey, 41, Arlington, VA, survivor.

"Immediately after crossing the finish I called my grandmother. Bubbie broke into tears as she said she looked for me on the television coverage, and was so proud of me for not only running, but for also listening. Listening to her and all those affected, and doing something—anything—to champion the cause for a cure."

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Christine Brophy, 46, Montgomery Village, MD, survivor. She placed tenth among survivors

"You have to have a certain attitude when you run, you must have an attitude that you can win, not only as a competitor but as a person. Like running, your goal as a cancer patient is to never give up, to keep your focus on your goals, and do what it takes to get there. When I crossed the finish line, I felt victorious, not just for the moment, but for the future."

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

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"I cannot believe that I ran that race not wearing any scarf on my head. Only my husband and my son had seen me bald, but it was hot and humid during the race; that's the only reason I took my hat off—but it was kind of liberating."

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

She Raced 18 Horses in an Ultramarathonand Won

"I attempt to be a runner, although cancer definitely took a toll on my body. Throughout my chemo, I walked almost five miles a day. Exercising keeps you balanced. And for Tyler, seeing all of these other women has helped him fully understand what it means to say that his mom is a survivor."

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Published: Oct 01, 2012 3:44 PM EDT

"Breast cancer is always in the back of my mind. It was bad enough when one sister was diagnosed in 1998, but then my half-sister and my sister-in-law were also diagnosed. Every time I go to the doctor's office I think that this is going to be the time they tell me they see something. I started running again in 1998 because of these races and my sister's diagnosis. There have been breakthroughs thanks to these races. It used to be a death sentence: You had mastectomy. You had chemo. And that was usually it. But today that's not a given. I'm positive that all of this will lead to more breakthroughs."

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Nahom Kifle (front, center), 28, Washington, D.C. Ran in honor of his mother, Elsa Haile, with friends

"My life has turned upside down since my mother was diagnosed [in 2010]. She's encountered many problems with her treatments [including losing her vision] because she also has diabetes. I've tried to be there for her at every step, but I can't really make it any easier for her. Through this event, though, I have an opportunity to fight cancer. Right before my group headed over to the race, my mother stepped out onto the balcony and waved to us. As soon as we waved back, we all got a burst of energy and motivation early in the morning to go get the race started."

Front row, from left: Michael Asghedom, Nahom Kifle, Vandy So. Back row, from left: Tedros Kidane, Blen Ahmed, Daniel Kidane, Daniel Habtemariam (Nahom's brother), Mulat Mehari.

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer

Susan Brooks, 23, Charleston, VA Ran in memory of her grandmother and in honor of two aunts (She placed sixth in the women's race.)

In her words "I run a lot of races [she competed in mid- and long-distance events at the University of Virginia], but the Race for the Cure is always special: It gives me a connection to my grandmother, whom I didn't get a chance to know. I put her name on my shirt. I think she would be touched and honored. The race is also special because we're united toward something. We're so scientifically advanced; I feel we're on the edge of finding a cure as long as we keep having events like this."

As told to Gwen Purdom / Photographs by David Deal

For more on running and cancer, go to runnersworld.com/outrunningcancer