Race for the Cure Steps off downtown Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Downtown Indianapolis was bathed in a sea of pink this morning as some 26,000 runners and walkers joined in the 21 ^st Anniversary Race for the Cure.

The event seeks to raise awareness, funds for local breast cancer programs and global research. This is Indiana’s largest single-day fundraising event.

Opening ceremonies and Survivor Parade were held in Military Park.

This year’s event featured a Kid’s Zone and Dash which included activity stations, music and entertainment.

Also new was a Team Tailgate area.  Teams raising $10,000 or more had their own team tent to decorate.

There were 11 new Ambassadors who have been impacted by breast cancer or are working to help save lives and who have been selected to represent the different faces of breast cancer.

Seventy-five percent of donations and Race registrations go to fund breast health programs in the 21-county central Indiana service area to help save Hoosier lives through early detection, treatment assistance, patient navigation and survivor support.

Twenty-five percent of donations are invested in the Komen Research Grants Program that is funding global breast cancer research seeking the causes, improved treatments and cures for breast cancer.