A showing of 350 breast cancer survivors during Saturday's 19th annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was proof that this event adds value to the community.
Besides survivors, the race includes at least 200 competitive runners each year and about 5,000 joggers and walkers along with supportive family members, friends and volunteers.
For Texarkana, Ark., Mayor Ruth Penney-Bell, the race has special meaning.
"We (she and Texas-side Mayor Bob Bruggeman) are thrilled to be here, because as you may know, I was diagnosed with having breast cancer, but thank God, it was caught early," Penney-Bell said.
She also said that none of her immediate family members were ever diagnosed with breast cancer, an illness that's not necessarily hereditary.
"Family members may not have it, but any woman can still get it-so it's important to get a mammogram," she said.
Bruggeman praised this ongoing effort.
"I want to thank everyone here for continuing to be a big part of this enormously crucial project," he said.
Amber Lawrence, Southwest Region director for Komen Arkansas, said last year's race collected enough funds to distribute about $187,000 locally, or 75 percent of the money collected at the 2016 race. The money helped pay for breast cancer education, screenings and diagnostic procedures. The remaining 25 percent goes toward breast cancer research.
"We do this for the ladies as well as for the guys," Lawrence said. "We walk and we race each day to find a cure. This is such an exciting day because of all of the hard work that goes into it. Today, I asked our volunteers to stop for a moment and look at the joy on the faces of all the people who come out. This makes you think that the effort is more than worth it every year."
Among competitive runners, Arkansas High School senior Dawson Omalley won the event, running more than 3 miles in 19 minutes, 27 seconds.
"I started off slow and I really wasn't looking at trying to win this, but when I realized I was keeping pretty good pace with the rest of runners, I just decided to go for it," said Dawson, who also ran in the Oct. 8 Chicago Marathon.
Keilie Lyons, a Texas Middle School eighth-grader who finished a little later, said it was her first time to run in Race for the Cure.
"I was glad that I was able to run the whole time," she said.
Texarkana, Texas, resident Angie Hopkins said she and her 12-year-old daughter, Cy, have run in at least four of these races and both intend to continue.
"I just like getting here and getting the chance to talk to everyone else," Angie Hopkins said. "Everyone here always seems to be having a great time."
Participating commercial sponsors, school districts and churches received various team spirit awards. They include:
Largest Family Award: "The Girls," first place; "It Takes A Village," second placeSpirit Award: Forward Fit
School Division: Texarkana Independent School District, first place; Texarkana
College, second place
Church Division: Enon Baptist Church, first place; Shiloh's Angels, second place
Small Business Division: State Bank, first place; Sterno Candle Lamp Co., second place
Corporate Division: CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, first place; E-Z Mart, second place
Spirit Stick-Tailgating Award: Hilton Gardens Inn
Party in Pink T-Shirts Award: Wisdom Animal Clinic
Youngest New Grow-getter Team Award: Melting Away