CIBC raising awareness about breast cancer

Ken Johnston

The members of the Rainy River branch of CIBC have been busy trying to get people to “Think Pink.”
Kicking off “Think Pink” week last week the local bank held a barbecue on its steps offering hotdogs and accepting donations towards the Run for Cure. The Run is an annual event hosted by CIBC’s all over Canada in an effort to raise money for Breast Cancer research and programs for those suffering from the disease. In its first year it raised $83,000 and had 1,500 participants. Last year it raised more than $21 million and had 170,000 participants.
RR branch manager Jeri Irish said that the RR CIBC staff have stepped up publicity of the event this year in hopes that more of the public will get involved. Previously the participants were mostly bank employees and friends.
The staff has been busy selling bags of pink jelly beans and chocolate covered almonds, with all the proceeds going to the cause. They have also been accepting donations towards their team’s efforts. People can run as a team and the staff at CIBC are going to do just that. Anyone donating to their team will have their name put up in the bank on a pink footprint. Pink rubber bracelets and ribbons are also available to donators.
The Run for the Cure, which can also be done as a walk, will take place at 10 a.m. on October 2nd at the bank. It will go down Main St., and then east on River Ave. It will go north on First St. and then east again on Mill Ave. and follow Tower Road to Hwy. 11. From there it is west to Main St. and South back to the bank.
People can register on line at www.cbcf.org or at any CIBC.