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Saturday, May 2, 2009 -- Charleston, WV / State Capitol Complex
WV Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure (iPO Event Id#: 11965)

[Details] [Coverage] [Photos] [Overall Results] [Results by Class]

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Race for the Cure Photos by J.R. Petsko
Racing for a Cure in WV

Article and photos by J.R. Petsko

On Saturday, my camera and I headed south on I-79 to cover the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I am sure most of you have heard of this event before. It takes place all over the country to help raise money to fight breast cancer. Since its inception in 1982, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has raised over $1 billion for research, education and health services, making it the largest breast cancer charity in the world.

Susan Goodman Komen was a woman from Peoria, Illinois who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33. When she died three years later Komen's younger sister, Nancy Goodman Brinker, felt that Susan's outcome might have been better if the public was more aware of the cancer and its treatment. Nancy remembered a promise that she made to her sister. She would find a way to speed up breast cancer research. In 1982, Nancy kept her promise and founded the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in Komen's honor.

This year, the West Virginia chapter of "Race for the Cure" was huge! I have never been to the Boston Marathon, but the start to it must be much like the Komen race. Runners line up shoulder to shoulder as deep as the eye can see. When the starting gun is fired, it's an amazing sight to see the flurry of runners take off.

Race for the Cure Photos by J.R. Petsko
The course was a 5-kilometer out and back race. Travis Cyphert of Morgantown, West Virginia turned in the best time of the day. Cyphert's time of 17:45 was enough to take the victory over hundreds of other runners. Now that is a major victory in my book.

Second place went to Brad Kohler, a local boy from Charleston. Kohler crossed the line in 17:58. Andrew Edmunds of Milton, WV finished third with a time of 18:13 and was followed by Nick Bias of Madison, WV in fourth. Fifth place went to Caleb Childers in 18:34.

On the women's side, Megan Schuerger of Spring Hill, WV is the 2009 champion. Schuerger finished the 5k course in a time of 19:47.

She was followed by Erin Dilley in second. Dilley of South Charleston completed the course in 19:52. Third Place was Sami Harris in 19:57. Fourth place went to Macy Coffey of Winfield. Coffey's time of 20:30 was even more impressive considering she is only 13 years old! Fifth place was Rachel Kutskill rounding out the top five women in 21:00.

Although your name may not have been mentioned in this story and you may not have gotten an award at the event, everyone who participated is a winner. You all helped a great cause and I hope this event continues to get bigger ever year.