Thousands show support at Race for the Cure (with photo gallery)

Bill Novak  —  6/01/2008 7:27 am

There were hundreds of heroes on Willow Island Saturday morning for the Komen Race for the Cure, but Mary Johnson's hero, her mom Chris, couldn't make it.

"She's always been there for me," Mary, 9, said, before she started to cry. Mary was comforted by her fellow junior Girl Scouts, all ready to cheer on the thousands walking and running in the 11th annual event to raise funds for breast cancer screening, education and awareness.

Mary and nine other fourth-graders from Troop 1046 came to the Race for the Cure as did so many others to show their support for survivors and each other.

Mary held a sign that said "My Mom Is My Hero," a sentiment expressed by family and friends about their mothers, sisters, daughters and friends, celebrating the hundreds of breast cancer survivors wearing pink T-shirts for the race, while also honoring the ones who've lost their battles.

Troop 1046 leader Laura Saunders said Mary's mom had breast cancer that went into remission, but has now metastisized.

"It hits home," Saunders said. "Coming here is pretty special."

Groups of supporters were all over Willow Island, dressed in bright T-shirts with names of a family member or friend emblazoned on the shirts, celebrating their years of surviving breast cancer.

Thirteen of Mary Wickham's cheering section from Lodi were there to support her being cancer-free for a year this upcoming June 6.

Wickham, 49, was first diagnosed with cancer in 1999.

"I've participated in every Race for the Cure except the first two years," Wickham said. "The people you meet here are like family and you run into many long-time survivors. They are my inspiration."

Mary's friend Karen Schwartz had a different view.

"She is our inspiration," Schwartz said.

Jim Schliesman of Portage was walking to support his wife Charlene's fight against breast cancer.

Jim and Charlene are both 63 years old, and have been married for 40 years. Charlene wasn't able to make it to the race; Jim has been walking in the race for the past six years.

"I'm not too hep on big crowds, but this one is amazing," Schliesman said.

Breast cancer survivors wore bright pink T-shirts. Several hundred of the women turned two sections of bleachers into a sea of pink as they gathered for a group photo.

Phyllis Daggett, 78, Madison, is a 29-year survivor of breast cancer.

"I'm one of the lucky ones," Daggett said.

She had five names on tags on the back of her T-shirt, celebrating the lives of three, honoring the memories of two.

"Two of the survivors are my cousins and the other is a friend," she said, "and I'm honoring two of my friends."

Daggett said surviving breast cancer makes you appreciate every day.

She's walked in all but one race.

"The support you get here really gives you a boost," she said. "But you see more and more young women."

Harley and Bonnie Schmidt were at the race in a group of 48 from Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison, supporting a friend who lost his wife to cancer in March.

"This is very important," Harley Schmidt said. "We hope to see the day when there is a cure."

Ellen O'Brion, 62, Rio, has walked in the Race for the Cure for eight years, supporting two college friends at the race who are cancer survivors, one of 17 years, the other of 10 years.

"We've also lost two college friends to cancer," O'Brion said.

The total number of race participants won't be known for a day or so. About 9,200 took part in the 2007 Race for the Cure.

Bill Novak  —  6/01/2008 7:27 am