More than 4,000 runners and walkers participated in the 20th Liz Hurley Ribbon Run 5K and Survivor’s Walk on Oct. 21, raising money for the Breast Center at Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children.
The annual event is one of the biggest in north Alabama. Only the Rocket City Marathon, Cotton Row and a couple of others coming close. It includes hardcore runners, walkers, cancer survivors and those who have been impacted in some way by breast cancer. You’ll see folks of all ages, too, from stroller babies to grannies.
Josh Whitehead and Malia Gill, both of Madison, claimed the top men’s and women’s spots in the race. Whitehead was fast, as usual, with a 15:54 while Gill was among the top finishers at 19th in 19:59. The final results from the Huntsville Track Club showed 4,022 official finishers. I’d bet a pink-frosted donut there were more than that with little tykes and others joining along the downtown route.
Two bigger winners stand out each year to me, however. One is the Breast Center at Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children. Second are the women who courageously fight this evil disease and its myriad physical, mental and emotional demons. Their families are impacted, as well. The battle, and fears, never really ends, but you keep pushing forward each day.
Money from the annual event helps purchase equipment for the Breast Center, or is used for other needs there. Last year, according to the event site, proceeds were used for “Dense Breast Software upgrades to better pinpoint which patients need additional levels of cancer screening for accurate diagnosis.” Also, a new Breast Cancer Patient Experience Project was created for “improving each patient’s comfort and surroundings while in the Breast Center.”
This year’s proceeds will help purchase a new ultrasound machine and ultrasound table with specialty mattress.
MAIN PHOTO: Liz Hurley, center, leads the Survivor’s Walk on Oct. 21 in Huntsville. The annual event raises money to assist the Breast Center at Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children. (Photo by Perla L. Núñez)
