Local run for women event raises donations and awareness

By Briana Sullivan

TNews Contributor

Girdwood had a supportive group last Saturday showing up for the virtual Alaska Run and Walk for Women.

About 30 participants began the 5-mile course together, including toddlers and kids, starting and ending near the Alyeska Daylodge. 

Briana Sullivan marked the course and the Girdwood Health Clinic, Girdwood Fire Department, and Four Valleys Community School helped Sullivan organize the event.  

The Girdwood Health Clinic set up a welcome table with women's health awareness information, including the Mammogram mobile unit's next date in Girdwood.  

Walkers and runners could go from 1-5miles and finish on the honor system, with most completing the full course.

A comfortably cool June morning turned into a nice day, enjoying energy from all ages and familiar faces, gathering for a common cause. Many wore bibs with names written of family and friends on their back to honor or remember those that have had breast cancer. The middle school ladies led the pack, with the "Milk Run" team shirts pushing strollers following the crowd.

The team, "Girdwood's Breast Intentions," began a few years ago in honor of the too-many women touched by breast cancer.  

According to the Alaska Run for Women program 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.  Anyone could be a member of the local team and donate, so being there in spirit still counts. 

Girdwood had a supportive group last Saturday showing up for the virtual Alaska Run and Walk for Women. About 30 participants began the 5-mile course together, including toddlers and kids, starting and ending near the Alyeska Daylodge. (Photo by Jen Call)

Girdwood's team finished strong in the community/family/friends category in fundraising, coming in 8th overall!  

"Thank you to all who donated, helping raise $1,252 toward fighting breast cancer across our state," said Sullivan.

This was the 32nd year of the Alaska Run for Women.

In Anchorage, Saturday's run on the UAA campus June 8 also focused on raising funds and awareness for breast cancer and women's health.  The event included 3,700 runners and walkers with nearly 1,000 more participating virtually.  From Fairbanks to Eagle River and Girdwood, many were running and walking for this cause.

The run helps women across Alaska.  According to the recent ADN article, the race donated more than a quarter of a million dollars in 2023 to groups of various focuses, ranging from research, and early detection to treatment and recovery.  

The Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska, the Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic, Providence Alaska Medical Center and Casting for Recovery are among the groups that received donations. 

UAA Clinical Research is also included, which is trying to advance forms immunotherapy to be more effective in fighting cancer.

A special thank you to Girdwood Nordic Ski Club for promoting the event and to Thea Ritter for helping sweep the course. 

Girdwood Health Clinic and Girdwood Fire Department look forward to a bigger showing in 2025!