On Sunday more than 4,200 walkers and runners took part in the annual Komen Maine Race for the Cure, an event which sustains breast cancer survivors and tries to raise money for education, screening and treatment programs for breast cancer. Organizers collected more than $250,000 in donations. 75% of the money raised from the event will stay in Maine to help fund education, screening and treatment programs throughout the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. The rest goes to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Programs.

In its history, the Race for the Cure has raised more than $1,000,000 for programs in the state. The first Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was held 25 years ago in Dallas, Texas. In 2007, the event attracted 3,800 participants.

The event brings awareness to the public that people fighting cancer still need support and highlights the fact that specialists are still searching for a cure. Every year, the National Breast Cancer Recognition program celebrates breast cancer survivors and honours them for their strength and courage.

Cancer survivors and other participants walked in this year’s Race for the Cure wearing complimentary pink hats and t-shirts. Supporters wore white T-shirts, with pink lettering.

Almost 4,000 people are diagnosed with cancer daily in the U.S. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Cancer is more common as people get older. Today, there are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.