Local honouring Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Local resident Sheri Zuidhof is raising funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) by participating in the annual CIBC Run for the Cure campaign, being held Oct. 6 in Lethbridge at Exhibition Park, with October also being breast cancer awareness month. If Zuidhof raises the anticipated amount she will shave her head at the bank on Oct. 4.

“This year I have challenged myself to raise $5,000 for the foundation,” said Zuidhof.  

“If I do, then I will shave my just past shoulder-length hair off,” she said, adding she has already teamed up with a local salon for the endeavour and funds have already started rolling in with her first donation from a cancer survivor.

“My grandmother actually shaved her head last year for cancer so it was kind of like if my grandma can do it, I can do it too,” she added.

According to Zuidhof, CIBC, where she works, organizes Run for the Cure every year with the CBCF. The CIBC raises funds throughout the branch every year, after the branch comes up with a theme in order to raise funds.

“We were kind of talking about how we’re going to raise more money. We did a hotdog sale at Cornfest and a dollar draw kind of thing. We were joking around and I said last year I was going to shave my head and the girls looked at me and said ‘you should do it this year’ and I said yeah, whatever and then I thought about it and I was like maybe I should do it this year.”

They looked at me and said ‘you’re joking’ and I said “no, watch me’,” said Zuidhof, who is also registered for the run in Lethbridge.

Zuidhof said she has many family members affected by cancer but not necessarily breast cancer. She added this cause hits close to home, as she has lost quite a few family members to the disease.

“This is just a way for me to give back. I don’t have a lot of time to volunteer, I don’t have lots of money to give but I have lots of hair,” said Zuidhof.

“My hair will grow back so I’m not worried about my hair.”

For more information or to donate call Zuidhof at 403-393-4268. Cheques can be made payable to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Donations can also be dropped off at the Taber CIBC branch during business hours.  Zuidhof said there is a thermometer tracker on location do track donation progress. Tax receipts are available for donations over $20.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure is Canada’s largest single day, volunteer-led fundraising event dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research, education and awareness programs. It was founded by a small group of volunteers who wanted to raise awareness and funds for the breast cancer cause.

Last year, Canadians united to raise over $30 million in the 2012 Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. The fundraising efforts and volunteer support of over 170,000 annual participants allows the Foundation to continue funding groundbreaking research, education, awareness and advocacy initiatives.

The Foundation was founded in 1986 by a group of women who saw too many friends and family members being diagnosed with a disease most women were embarrassed to talk about. Their vision was to bring a voice to those affected by breast cancer, and to dedicate funding to breast cancer specific research, education and awareness programs. For over 25 years, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation has been at the forefront of a nation-wide movement to raise awareness and mobilize action on breast cancer.

For more information visit online at http://www.runforthecure.com.