Local races raise breast-cancer awareness, funds
Road races by three area hospitals this month shine the spotlight directly on breast-cancer awareness. You don’t have to be a runner to participate in these important efforts; walkers are welcome, too.
The first of the races is the popular, annual 5K and 10K runs in Sylva along the Tuckasegee River on Oct. 1. The 13th annual Smoky Streak is a joint effort of the Jackson County Health Department, MedWest Harris/Swain hospitals and the MedWest Harris/Swain Foundation.
New for this year is that both the 5K and 10K will start and finish at Webster Baptist Church, meaning no more shuttle buses. The 5K will begin at 9 a.m. and the 10K will begin at 9:30 a.m. The proceeds will provide mammograms for underserved women in the MedWest Health System.
www.medwesthealth.org/smoky_streak.aspx.
The next race, Pour le Pink, is a 3.2-mile walk/run to support local breast health and women’s services, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. The funds raised will go toward maintaining the hospital’s spectrum of breast health and women’s services as well as financial aid for patients.
Early entry fee is $20 for adults, if received on or before Sept. 30. Late entries received after that date will cost $30. Child rate is $5. The 5k race is open to male/female runners and walkers of all ages will begin at 8 a.m.; the fun walk/run at 8:15 a.m. www.highlandscashiershospital.org or 828.526.1313.
Finally, to complete the hat trick, the Power of Pink race will be held in Haywood County on Saturday, Oct. 29, to raise money for mammograms for women who otherwise can’t afford them. There is a five-woman relay race, a four-mile individual run, and a fun run/walk as part of the event. The Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation and the Haywood County Health Department sponsor this annual event.
The relay start time is 8 a.m.; the four-miler starts at 9:30 a.m. The fun run/walk starts at 11 a.m.
