CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Melissa Bruce got involved with CIBC’s Run for the Cure because of the women in her life.
“Breast cancer has touched friends and family,” she said.
“I just wanted to do something to help out. To help support the cause.”
She’s been director of the CIBC Run for the Cure organizing committee for the past three years. Now in its 23rd year, the Canada-wide breast cancer fundraiser took place along the streets of Charlottetown on Oct. 6., starting and ending at Confederation Landing Park.
Last week, The Guardian reported there was concern attendance would be low, but on the day of there were about 470 registered runners and walkers at the starting line. This number was on par with previous years, as was the $71,991 the event raised, said an event spokesperson.
This year, the starting time was changed from 2 p.m. to 10 a.m. Bruce said the new time got positive feedback. The decision was made in part due to the potential for increased traffic with other activities like Farm Day in the City happening the same day.
“Our major decision for changing it was safety,” she said. “To ensure that everybody could participate in all the events going on and no one got hurt.”
Overall, the run went well, Bruce said.
Noreen Murphy spoke to participants before runners hit the streets. The Kingston, P.E.I., resident lives with metastatic breast cancer, meaning the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of her body, in her case, her bones.
She’ll live with it for the rest of her life. But it’s not bringing her down.
“I just live life,” said Murphy. “My motto is ‘dance.’”
On Oct. 4., the P.E.I. government announced it will add Ibrance, a treatment option for metastatic breast cancer, to the provincial drug formulary.
Approximately five Islanders can benefit every year from the drug, which costs $5,300 for each 28-day therapy course.
Murphy has already been using Ibrance, so the addition will help alleviate her own costs.
“The drugs that I am on are keeping me stable, for I hope, you know, as long as possible,” she said.
Bruce thinks Ibrance is an amazing addition to the formulary that will surely help Islanders dealing with breast cancer.
“We can only hope that the province will continue to add more,” she said.
“Because if you don’t have drug coverage it can be an expensive journey as well. Both emotionally and financially.”
