Members of the Buccaneers Student Advisory Board were among the participants in Saturday's Race for the Cure
Straub Park, in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, is crowded on just about any Saturday of the year. Its early weekend mornings are packed with runners, roller bladers, bikers and families out for a stroll.
On this particular Saturday, however, it was a little bit more than crowded...overflowing, perhaps, with both people and good will. Over 10,000 people gathered in Straub Park on the morning of September 21 to support the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure event, a nationwide push to raise money for breast cancer research, detection and treatment.
Among those thousands of participants were several members of the Buccaneers Family, including General Manager Rich McKay, a handful of Buccaneers cheerleaders, many members of the Buccaneers Student Advisory Board and a group of wives of Buccaneer players.
"The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders like to be an active part of the community and the Race for the Cure is great event to support," said Tammy Denbo, a two-year veteran of the cheerleading squad. "We're just trying to help raise awareness and encourage people to support the Race for the Cure."
Support for the Race has grown enormously over the past few years, as more men and women have recognized the profound effects breast cancer can have on women and their family and friends.
"I think breast cancer research is something we really need to focus on," said Student Advisory Board member Leah Linder of Countryside High School. "It's an important issue because of the number of people it affects."
Seventy-five percent of proceeds from the Tampa Bay-area Race for the Cure will fund breast cancer screening, education and treatment projects in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee and Pasco Counties. The remaining 25% will be donated to the National Research Grants Program of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
While the event, which features a 5K Run/Walk, one-mile Fun Run/Walk, Kidz Dash in a Flash and a Breast Cancer Survivor March, is for some a great way to get exercise and support an important cause, for others it's a little more personal.
"This is the least I can do for a great cause," said Susan Yoder, wife of Buccaneers tight end Todd Yoder. "I've had some family members that have had breast cancer and to be able to get out here and do this is pretty special."
For more information on Breast Cancer and how you can help support the Race for a Cure, please log on to komensuncoast.com.
