eyelash growth

Article published September 27, 2010 19,096 runners, walkers race for the Cure in Toledo Event celebrates survivors, honors those who died a turnout topping last year’s puts pedestrians curb to curb on northbound Summit Street. ( THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT ) By BRIDGET THARPBLADE STAFF WRITER Sharon Parlette credits the support of her family when she reflects on her battle with breast cancer eight years ago.

But she couldn’t help but leave her loved ones at the starting line Sunday when she power-walked through the 5-kilometer run route in 45 minutes at the 17th annual Komen race for the Cure downtown.

“Nobody walks that fast,” Ms. Parlette said, laughing, as she tried to reunite with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter after the race.

Abby Yeager, no. 5213 in the center, waves up to her family as she and others work their way up Summit Street. ( THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT ) At least 19,096 people filled downtown Toledo, surpassing last year’s turnout of about 18,000 participants, event organizers said.Ms. Parlette has participated in the event every year since she first felt the small lump in her breast. The race is an annual reminder of how lucky she is to be alive, she said.”I thank God that I’m still here,” the 67-year-old Northwood resident said tearfully.Two-year breast cancer survivor and portrait artist Dorothy McDougal, 51, of Toledo said she didn’t expect to finish the one-mile walk.back pain caused by degenerative disc disease has prompted her to use a cane. But Ms. McDougal got through the walk anyway, at the urging of her daughters and her niece.

Ms. McDougal attended the race Sunday for the second time since she felt what turned out to be two large lumps in her right breast. she said her chemotherapy and mastectomy was “devastating, and sometimes still is.”"I lost my eyelashes, my hair. Everything. But I got a new set of eyelashes now. And I love them,” Ms. McDougal said, batting her eyes to show off the long lashes that have since grown back naturally. “I love my tatas. I lost one of them. Oh, well. I’m alive.”Before the race this week, Ms. McDougal’s niece helped her create and post a video to youtube.com about the importance of self breast exams.Cathie Zenz, 51, of Sylvania sports a hot-pink coif at the race every year.Though she enjoys using the temporary spray color to make a statement with her short, spiky hairdo, Ms. Zenz said she didn’t mind losing her mane during her six chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer six years ago.”I worked two jobs and I never got sick,” she said, adding that she never covered her bare head. “I was proud to be bald. I was lucky.”Ms. Zenz said she dutifully attends the event in hope that the proceeds for breast-cancer research will mean her daughters “won’t go through what I went through.”

Three-year breast-cancer survivor Molly Meyers of Ottawa Hills dances with the Lourdes College gray wolf mascot after finishing her run through downtown in the annual race for the Cure. ( THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT ) it was the first race for one-year survivor Jeannine Sievert, 63, of Graytown, who planned to roll through the one-mile walk route on her new motorized scooter.

She was diagnosed in March last year after a mammogram showed a cluster of calcifications. With a family history of breast cancer – her mother, her sister, and her first cousin had been diagnosed – treatment included 38 rounds of radiation and a lumpectomy, Ms. Sievert said.

“Today – just to see all the people and all the survivors and know there is life after breast cancer,” Ms. Sievert said.

a survivor of nearly two decades, Fran Goodeman, 77, of Toledo wore a pink sun hat decorated with 16 ribbons for each year she’s outlived her diagnosis.

Her daughter had shirts made for several family members who joined mrs. Goodeman on the walk. hers read: “I walk to celebrate my 16 cancer free years.” she had a mastectomy after a mammogram revealed a pea-sized lump that metastasized into Stage 4 cancer within a month.

“I just really went in thinking I was going to die. I was more concerned about my family,” mrs. Goodeman said of her mind-set before surgery.

Now she knows better.

“I was lucky. I thank God every day,” mrs. Goodeman said.

Jeanne Heintschel, 61, of Oregon credits “prayer, the Lord, and good support” for beating breast cancer six years ago. she felt a lump, which later led to chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and a lumpectomy. she said her sister, Shirley Berndt, 59, accompanied her to every treatment after Ms. Berndt lost her job – something they both consider divine intervention.

“The Lord works in mysterious ways,” Ms. Berndt said. “I lost my job, but there was a reason for losing my job.”

Three-year breast cancer survivor Molly Meyers boogied with the gray wolf mascot from Lourdes College to the dance music pumped from loud speakers outside fifth third Field after the race Sunday.

mrs. Meyers noted that she now sees more participants with signs “in celebration” of a survivor, rather than “in memory” of a woman who lost the fight, since she first attended the race 10 years ago.

“I love this,” mrs. Meyers, 53, of Ottawa Hills gushed as she bobbed her head to the tunes. “I am going to do this every year. not walk – run – every year.”

Race-day proceeds from about 19,000 participants and corporate sponsorships are estimated to have raised upward of $918,000 for the cause, said Mary Westphal, executive director of the local event. The goal remains for the Northwest Ohio Affiliate to raise $1 million by the fund-raising deadline of Oct. 26.

Last year, more than 18,000 people participated, raising $925,000. Organizers hoped to surpass those numbers this year. over the past 16 years, the local affiliate has raised more than $6.3 million, 75 percent of which has stayed in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan to support services here.

“We’re very happy. What we know is we did better than last year,” Ms. Westphal said. “The race is a powerful event, and it provides a demonstration of how the power of one person becomes the impact of many in the fight against breast cancer.”

Contact Bridget Tharp at:btharp@theblade.comor 419-724-6086.   Permanent Link 19,096 runners, walkers race for the Cure in Toledo http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100927/NEWS16/9260374/0/SPORTS01 STORY:20109260374

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