Edhat Staff
Barbara Ireland (center) during Saturday’s walk (Photos by Fritz Olenberger)
By edhat staff
The 2019 Barbara Ireland Walk and Run took place this past on Saturday at Chase Palm Park. The event features a 5K, 10K, and 15K course Walk/Run options to raise funds for breast cancer research. Hundreds of people showed up on a sunny Saturday morning dressed in green to support the cause.
The Barbara Ireland Walk & Run for Breast Cancer began in the year 2000 as a collaboration between Barbara Ireland, her family, and the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. Inspired by the death of a dear friend from breast cancer, Barbara wanted to rally friends and family in Santa Barbara to raise funds to help eradicate the disease. In 2006, the Cancer Foundation was named the beneficiary of the Walk in order to further Barbara’s desire to help local women in their fight with breast cancer.
Last year 400 registered participants of the Walk raised more than $46,000. This year the event exceeded their fundraising goal of $50,000 by several thousand dollars. 100% of the proceeds go towards breast cancer research, genetic counseling and patient navigation programs at the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.
Women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer during her lifetime. Approximately 3.1 million women in the United States have battled breast cancer and survived thanks to funding for research and supportive care programs. This event works to raise money to continue to save lives and also remember those who were taken by a disease that is all too common.
Congratulations to everyone participating in this worthwhile cause.