Racers fight heat in marathon battle against cancer

Jennifer Hall inked the words "For Mom" above a heart drawn on her shoulder before Saturday's Pink Totties Cancer Firkin Sucks walk and run in downtown Carson City.

"She's going on 20 years as a survivor of breast cancer," Hall said. "I'm a female, a high-risk cancer candidate. What better way to support the cause than with doing something healthy and coming out here to run?"

Hall was one of 162 entries who braved scorching temperatures to raise money for the Pink Totties, a group of eight women who signed up for the Breast Cancer 3 Day, a 60-mile walk in different cities across the U.S., to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Loretta Evenson, a member from Carson City, said 105 people pre-registered and about 60 more signed up the day of the race.

She said hearing people's personal stories of survival or of loved ones' battles with cancer reinforced her desire to help.

The Pink Totties began participating in the 3 Day in 2007. In order to participate, each of the eight members must raise $2,300, all of which goes to breast cancer research. Organizers estimate they raised about $10,000 in race entries, T-shirt sales and sponsors.

Evenson encouraged supporters to continue donating through the Web site at pink

totties.cfsites.org.

Mayor Bob Crowell, himself a cancer survivor, announced the start of the race.

"These events are extremely important," he told the crowd. "Now let's get ready to rumble."

He then joined in the race.

Mother and daughter Maureen Becker and Heather Anderson of Dayton dressed in pink grass skirts and accessorized with pink leis.

"It makes it more fun when you dress up," Anderson said.

The two said they've lost most of the women in their family to cancer.

"We do a lot of these walks," Anderson said. "We like to stay involved with the fight against cancer."

The two won the prize for best dressed, and Becker won the walk in the over-60 division.

Nancy Ramey, of Carson City, had her husband's grandmother's name written on the back of her shirt. Ramey has twice participated in the Breast Cancer 3 Day.

"Anything we do makes a difference," she said. "If I can suffer through these walks, that's nothing compared to what they go through."