Pittsburgh 'Race For The Cure' Draws Thousands Despite Rain

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A little rain wasn't enough to stop the Race for the Cure.

Thousands strolled through Schenley Park, supporting the battle against breast cancer.

"We're sisters, and we survived this horrible thing," breast cancer survivor Alise Lipovsky said. "He gave us another day."

Hugs and tears of joy were shared by breast cancer survivors, celebrating life while fighting the good fight.

A cold, rainy morning may have affected attendance at the 26th Annual Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure, but it was a good day for Rebecca Flores, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in September.

She was supported by family, friends and other survivors.

"When you meet other survivors, and they had surgery or they're going through chemo, and you're showing each other your port and different things," Flores said. "You know you're not alone."

Chris Deutsch's mother died from breast cancer the day before Mother's Day.

"When she had breast cancer, I walked in honor of her, and now I'm walking in memory of her," she said.

This year, the Race for the Cure selected Daniel Garcia to be the race chairperson. He's part of the 1 percent of men with breast cancer.

"I procrastinated. I had a lump and ignored it for four or five months," he said. "I didn't think guys could get breast cancer."

"We thought and we hoped that might draw some more attention that males do get breast cancer," Kathy Purcell, the CEO of Susan G. Komen of Greater Pennsylvania, said.

Meanwhile, after a recent merger with the northeast part of the state, the charity to fight breast cancer is now called Susan G. Komen of Greater Pennsylvania, serving 53 counties.

"It is still the same process that 75 percent of the funds we raise will stay local and 25 percent will go for research," Purcell said.