KINGSTON, Ont. (October 2, 2017) - Among the runners and walkers in the 18
th annual CIBC Run for Cure on Sunday, Queen's Gaels athletes could be spotted trading in their tricolour for pink for the breast cancer fundraiser race.
Beginning in 1997 as a partnership between the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, CIBC and communities across the country, the run is the largest single-day, volunteer-led event in Canada in support of the breast cancer cause.
The Run for the Cure race featured about 1,000 participants and raised more than $200,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. The Kingston event was one of 56 held across the country. The Society reports the Run has raised $360 million nationwide for breast cancer research since 1986 with 103,814 people participating in 2016.
This year, Queen's varsity athletes from various teams including women's basketball, women's rugby, and men's and women's rowing, joined together to challenge the Gaels men's rugby team in a friendly fundraiser competition.
Over the years, the Queen's men's rugby squad has been dominant in their fundraising campaign, raising tens of thousands of dollars for the breast cancer initiative to date.
The Queen's varsity athletes group raised $7,600, with the Gaels swimming team adding another $3,150 and the Gaels Nordic skiing team contributing another $600 to total $11,350 in donations.
As of Monday however, the Gaels men's rugby squad stand victorious for another year as the top fundraiser team, with a whopping $24,049 raised for the breast cancer research initiative – rounding off for a total of $35,399 raised by Gaels athletes.
The money that Queen's athletes raised this past weekend will be invested into breast cancer research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment and care through the Canadian Cancer Society. The fund will also go towards funding a breast cancer patient support network that works to improve support needed for those affected by the disease.
Gaels men's and women's rowing team at the CIBC Run for the Cure.
Queen's women's rugby and basketball players together before the Kingston race.
