CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - On Sunday, a "sea of pink" flooded Chattanooga as the city hosted its ninth annual Komen Race for the Cure. This year, a record 6,079 participated, including a record 113 teams, to help in the fight against breast cancer. Of those 6,000 plus, 110 were student-athletes from UTC.
In this year's race, one-third of UTC's student-athlete population were involved in the event as members of the men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, softball, and wrestling teams participated.
"The Race for the Cure has become an annual event for many of our student-athletes, coaches and staff," Chattanooga Athletics Director Rick Hart said. "With well over 100 participants this year, it was evident that UTC Athletics is committed to making a difference in our community."
Also involved were Chattanooga's cross country and track teams, who helped assist the event organizers. Â
This is the seventh year the Mocs Squad has been involved in the Komen Race for the Cure.
Nancy Brinker created the Race series as a way to educate the public about breast cancer while raising funds to discover and deliver the cures. The first Race took place in 1983 in Dallas with 800 participants, many of whom wore pink to symbolize the breast cancer movement for the first time.
"I would like to personally thank Rita and Leroy Fanning for supporting this special event, and for their contributions to the personal development of our student-athletes," Hart added.
