SACO – Alicia Bissonnette smiled broadly as she stood surrounded by a couple of dozen friends and family members in matching pink T-shirts Sunday morning.
Just six weeks ago, Bissonnette, 21, of Saco, underwent a hysterectomy to remove a stromal tumor after being diagnosed with a rare soft-tissue cancer. She said she decided to walk in the Mary’s Walk and Kerrymen Pub 5K road race this year to raise money for cancer research through the Maine Cancer Foundation.
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“But I will be running next year, that’s for sure,” Bissonnette said.
Bissonnette and her group alone expected to raise $3,000 for the Maine Cancer Foundation in what is one of the largest cancer fundraisers in the state. The event, which has taken place along Saco’s Main Street on the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day every year since 1999, is in memory of Saco resident Mary Kerry Libby, an avid walker proud of her Irish descent, who died of Burkitt’s lymphoma in March 1997 at age 44. Since her death, cancer research has found effective treatments for the disease.
The walk and race has raised nearly $2 million for cancer research in Maine and attracted more than 20,000 participants since its inception. This year’s walk and road race set a new record, with 1,112 runners and 2,000 walkers taking part. Together they raised $250,000.
On Sunday, a sea of walkers and runners gathered on the grounds of Thornton Academy to register, many of them dressed in matching outfits.
Family and friends of the late Alec Cyr of Kennbunkport, who died in November at age 35 from colon cancer, sported matching camouflage shirts in his memory.
“He was a fisherman, marathoner and mountain climber,” said his sister, Charlotte Cyr of Kennebunk.
A year ago, she said, her brother urged her on when she ran in the road race.
“Now I want to raise awareness about colon cancer so no one has to go through what he did,” she said.
Chuck and Lisa Cote, their two sons and a group of friends all donned pink shirts to participate in the event.
“My wife is a breast cancer survivor, which made us more aware of the need to raise money,” said Chuck Cote, of Biddeford.
Dozens of Scarborough High School athletes and their parents were among the walkers.
“We just wanted to be part of it,” said Lisa Turner, parent of one of the athletes.
Joan Tarbox of Saco and her family walked in memory of her daughter, the late Tracy Ann Curit, who died of cancer in 2003.
“We have done it every year since she passed,” Tarbox said.
Runners included hard-core competitors and joggers just looking for fun.
“For me, this supports my own running efforts and efforts to fight cancer,” Lisa Valentine said.
Portland running friends Arlene Hanson, Doug Hekl, Lisa Trainor and Victoria Foley said the event allowed them to get exercise and do a little good.
“We are here to have fun and support a good cause,” Hanson said.
Staff Writer Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at:
bquimby@pressherald.com
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