Gymnastics team hosts breast cancer awareness run and walk Oct. 23

October 20, 2009

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnastics team will host its third annual breast cancer awareness 5-mile run and walk to help support the cause.

On Friday, October 23, the 5-mile run and walk will start at noon in Starin Park Pavilion, with registration beginning at 11 a.m. The run and walk will go through the streets of Whitewater and finish at the Coulthart Pavilion outside Perkins Stadium. The entry fee is $10, with a free T-shirt given to the first 250 people. All proceeds go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Gymnastics Head Coach Jennifer Regan was inspired to start this event at a gymnastics meet in February 2006. At the meet UW-Whitewater gymnasts and gymnasts from other universities honored breast cancer awareness by wearing pink leotards. Regan was inspired to do more for breast cancer awareness back at UW-Whitewater, and began the five-mile run and walk.

Regan said the event "is really good for the community and hearing the stories of survivors has been very inspiring."

"Everyone is affected by cancer in some way and this is our chance to give back to the community and honor those who have either fought or lost the battle with this disease," Allison Annala, a senior UW-Whitewater gymnast, said.

More than 100 people participated in last year's event and Regan hopes for even more participants this year.

"I believe that breast cancer awareness is important because there are so many people affected by it," said Traci Korte, a senior gymnast. "This walk helps people of all ages get involved and support our fight against it."

Regan encourages everyone to show their support by walking, running or making a donation. Regan is accepting early donations and others can fill out an entry form the day of and receive their T-shirt.

For information regarding this event or to make a donation contact Jennifer Reagan at 262-472-5647 or whitej@uww.edu