Some cheered, others posed in pink for pictures as 1800 people braved the rain for the CIBC Run for the Cure at the Barrie waterfront.

This year’s event raised at least $250,000 – with more donations still being counted.

While this is the largest single day volunteer led run in Canada that will raise more than $3 million, cancer survivor Flynn West-Macpherson says her job is raise spirits.

“For anybody out there – you got to keep your sense of humour and you got to do what you got to do.”

Colleen’s Coconuts know what it means to lose a loved one. Lyndsay Wollborn says her god mother was the most caring person she ever met.

“She was awesome, always happy, and full of energy.”

Oncologist Ralph George says every year the hope for a cure gets closer.

“Since I’ve been involved with breast cancer the mortality rate of women diagnosed with breast cancer has dropped by 42 per cent and it’s because of research and early detection.”

And because of early detection, Sandy Howcroft was able to complete her first Run for the Cure.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my runner motivator – Cindy and I actually made it. It’s amazing what you can do with a little motivation.”

The run in Barrie was one of four in our region. The others were in Alliston, Collingwood, and Bracebridge.