A sea of walkers and runners, most wearing pink T-shirts, set off Sunday morning from Payson Park in Portland to raise money to combat breast cancer.

And although breast cancer survivor Brenda Fowler’s bad knees meant that she couldn’t walk with them, Fowler said she was determined to cheer from the sidelines.

“I just love the spirit and support,” said Fowler, of Saco, who was diagnosed with the disease in May 2013.

Fowler and dozens of other breast cancer survivors were on hand for the fifth Race for the Cure, sponsored by Komen Maine, the local affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer research and community support organization, based in Dallas. It has raised more than $2.2 billion since it started in 1983.

Komen Maine has raised enough money to invest more than $3 million in the state for breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs, and more than $840,000 for breast cancer research.

For some of the hundreds of people who were there to raise money Sunday, the event was a way to do their part to help fight the disease.

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Mike Carroll and his friend Matt Baron stood next to the gigantic pink cement mixer of F.R. Carroll Inc., a construction company in Limerick that Carroll’s family owns. Carroll said he asked Baron to paint it pink, complete with the signature pink ribbon symbolizing breast cancer awareness, a year and a half ago in support of his mother’s 30-year battle with breast cancer. Carroll said his mother, Barbara Carroll, has had three bouts with the disease.

At first he and Baron worried that the driver would refuse to operate the mixer. Instead, the driver was honored to be seen in the hot-pink truck, Carroll said.

The cement mixer has become a minor celebrity around Limerick, where people honk and cheer and ask to be photographed next to it, Carroll said.

Now he parks the cement mixer at breast cancer fundraisers around the state.

Jessica Bowden of Windham, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at age 32, was surrounded by family members and friends who have participated in the race every year since then. They call themselves the Pink Posse and dress in black and neon pink shirts emblazoned with their motto: “Pink is tougher than you think.”

“You are not a sissy when you are going through cancer. You don’t have a choice,” Bowden said.

Holly Corda, president of the board of directors of Komen Maine, said the chapter won’t know now much money was raised from the 3½-mile walk and run around Baxter Boulevard in Portland and from a second, larger Race for the Cure in Bangor on Sept. 21, until sometime in October. About 800 people participated in the Portland race.

Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at:

bquimby@pressherald.com


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