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Source: Tulsa World, Okla.迷你倉Sept. 29--Patricia Stevenson and Janice Wright have been friends for almost 30 years, but their bond goes far deeper than that.Stevenson and Wright were among hundreds of breast cancer survivors who gathered at ONEOK Field on Saturday morning for the 17th Komen Tulsa Race for the Cure."There are no strangers here," said Stevenson, who added there is a special sense of camaraderie among those who were wearing pink "survivor" T-shirts on Saturday."We get strength from each other," Wright said.Wright said she has especially drawn inspiration from her long-time co-worker Stevenson, whose battle with cancer had begun shortly before her own."If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't know what to do," said Wright, who said she has undergone four rounds of chemotherapy and 33 rounds of radiation.Stevenson had already undergone a double mastectomy and four months of chemotherapy in 2009 before Wright was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2009. Wright recalled on Saturday that she told Stevenson of her bad news at a Christmas party.Sandy Carter also remembers having an otherwise festive occasion spoiled in quite a similar way. She said she received her diagnosis on her 50th birthday.Carter is now in her seventh year as a breast cancer survivor. She said at one point she had to endure 11 different medical procedures over a 16-month time frame.Although she is cancer-free these days, Carter said of the disease, "I don't know if you ever really put it behind you."Carter said she stays in contact with several other survivors and is glad to see other familiar faces at the annual Race for the Cure.Christy Southard, executive director of the Tulsa affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, said about 9,000 people took part in Saturday's running and walking events, with about 700 to 800 being breast cancer survivors.Yolonda Beatty said Race for the Cure is a chance to gather with "people who understand what you've been through."Some of those who were on hand on Saturday are regulars at the Race.Connie and Paul Brown have been married for 52 years. It was on the Tulsa couple's anniversary date in 2010 that Connie was diagnosed with cancer, the same disease that Paul has been battling since 2001.Other participants were new to the spectacle and emotion of the event."This is overwhelming," said Kim Thornberry, who said she was diagnosed in January. "The support is just phenomenal."Thornberry, a Jenks High School teacher, was also drawing support from a team of 28 peopl文件倉 that turned out to cheer her on."I'm very blessed to be here," said Jennifer Thurman, who said she received her diagnosis on New Year's Eve 2002 and soon after endured five surgeries over a nine-month span.Thurman said that breast cancer survivors become a sort of network, encouraging each other to keep fighting.She said she is also heartened by the consistent support that Tulsa provides to the Race for the Cure, which raises funds for breast cancer research and education.Southard said last year's event raised close to $800,000 with a similar total expected this year once everything is tallied up later in the year.The hope is that someday a cure will be found and events such as this won't be necessary, Until then, the spirit on display in a baseball park on Saturday stood as evidence that this is a contest that can be won.Stevenson said, "when you first hear the term, 'breast cancer' you think you are going to die."However, both Stevenson and Wright were very much alive on Saturday. As music filled ONEOK Field, they sobbed and embraced in a display that seemed to include joy, relief, sadness and about a thousand other emotions to which words cannot do justice.CureSearch for Children's Cancer raises about $76,000The battle against cancer was being fought on two fronts in Tulsa on Saturday morning.About 1,000 people participated in a walk in south Tulsa that benefitted CureSearch for Children's Cancer, according to that event's chairwoman Candin Hobbs.Hobbs said dozens of teams took part in the walk, which was held at Oral Roberts University. Besides the walk, Hobbs said there were various other festivities, including medals being distributed to about 65 children who are fighting cancer.According to its website, CureSearch for Children's Cancer "funds and supports targeted and innovative children's cancer research with measurable results,"CureSearch raises funds through methods that include philanthropic donations from individuals, corporations and private foundations as well as sponsorships and special events, according to its website.The website says that in 2013, 60 CureSearch walks, such as the one held in Tulsa on Saturday, are scheduled to take place in various cities as well as 11 "ultimate hike" events.Hobbs said the third annual Tulsa event raised about $76,000.David Harper 918-581-8359david.harper@tulsaworld.comCopyright: ___ (c)2013 Tulsa World (Tulsa, Okla.) Visit Tulsa World (Tulsa, Okla.) at .tulsaworld.com Distributed by MCT Information Services存倉