Saturday, May 1, 2004 -- Charleston, WV
Susan G. Komen West Virginia Race for the Cure (iPO Event Id#: 6081)
Story and photos by Ariana Kincaid

[Details] [Coverage]
[Overall Results] [Results by Class]
Pictures: [Set 1] [Set 2] [Set 3] [Set 4] [Set 5] [Set 6] [Set 7] [More Race Photos]
Event Coverage: [2001] [2002] [2003]

Walking in memory
of Sandy Rubrecht

Charleston, WV-- On May 1st, over 3,200 people converged on the State Capitol grounds to participate in the Fourth Annual West Virginia's Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The main function of the race is to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer and breast cancer research,the amount continues to be updated, but right now, over $100,000 has been raised! Up to 75 percent of the funds raised stay in West Virginia to fund education, treatment, and screening programs for underserved populations.

The weather was perfect, with enough of a chill to aid the runners, but not enough to deter the walkers from coming out.

A perfect day to race

Since the goal behind this race is to defeat breast cancer the first reported category is that of breast cancer survivors. Legal eagle, Debra McHenry, finishedthe out-and-back boulevard course with a time of 27:06. Lois Green came in second place with a time of 29:42, and shortly behind her with a time of 30:17 was the delightfully chipper, Peggy Pope, who finished third. Special regards goes out to these women for not only beating The Big C, but for also continuing to contribute in so many ways to the cause. Remember, just because the Survivor category is all women don't think that men don't get breast cancer; 1,500 men per year are diagnosed with the disease.

David McCollam cruises through downtown Charleston

So many people participated in the race this year that as the fastest runners (three men), had less than a half a mile to go before they reached the finish line, walkers still clogged the westbound lanes of Kanawha Boulevard. Those men were David McCollam, Larry Taylor, and Isaya Okwiya.

David McCollam finished almost a full minute ahead of well known racer, Larry Taylor. McCollam finished with 15:30.9 for first, and Taylor a 16:28.9, respectively). Wrapping up third place was Isaya Okwiya with a time of 16:39.9.

The top female finisher finisher, Roxann Polo-Reasor, finished with a time of 19:23.5. A woman who has seen more than her share of top three race finishes, Connie Young, earned second place with a time of 20:30.4. And Jodie Ferguson wrapped up the top three with a time of 20:45.6.

Walking for a great cause

This year in the United States alone, more than 40,000 women will die from breast cancer, leaving behind their mothers and daughters, husbands, sons, siblings, cousins and friends. While there is no simple solution, quality mammography is key to saving lives because breast cancer is most treatable when detected early.

Right now, Congress is considering reauthorizing the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA), legislation that has made mammography a safer, more accurate tool for detecting breast cancer by establishing safety and quality standards. The Senate has already passed the MQSA with strong bipartisan support, but the House of Representatives has yet to pass this life-saving measure.

Please send a message to Congress in support of the MQSA, a program that saves lives. Please visit www.ActNowEndBreastCancer.org to send your letter today.

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For the Record...
Stepping down off of the soapbox, I would like to thank Chris Lambert and the race committee (who work year round to make such a huge event go off with out a hitch), Cynthia Gibbs of River City Runners Club for getting the results out in a timely fashion, Steve Bishop and Jenny Murray of V-100 radio for the great publicity for the event, ReMax Realty, New Balance, Ford, and the seemingly hundreds of other volunteers and the vendors who provide such a supportive environment for the participants and their supporters.