Especially For You Race Against Breast Cancer a Huge Success

The Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer has been a Cedar Rapids tradition for more than three decades. Its level of success in both participants and money raised continues to be inspiring and amazing.

The 31st installment of the Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer was held on a damp Sunday morning at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids with participants taking place both in-person and virtually. After 10,264 people took part during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in October of 2020, a total of 12,806 registered for the 2021 event.

Sunday morning's Especially for You event raised a whopping $385,000 for the Especially for You fund. It provides financial help for gynecological and breast cancer screenings for people in need. Since the fund was started here in Linn County, over 11,000 people have received assistance with approximately 26,000 services.

There were a total of 457 teams signed up for Sunday morning's event. The 12,806 participants were from 37 states and 483 cities, with the oldest person being 96-years-old. A total of 690 cancer survivors registered for this year's race.

The Especially For You race is actually three events. There is a 5K run, a 5K walk, and a one-mile fun walk for families. After starting at Mercy Medical Center, the walk concluded at Green Square with a health fair, food truck, and more.

The annual event was first inspired by the wishes of Whittier, Iowa resident and General Mills worker Sandy Knight. She died of breast cancer at a young age in July of 1991. Before her passing, she asked that a race to raise money for breast cancer awareness and education be started. The race was founded by Mercy Medical Center and General Mills. That first year, 1,078 people took part.

Race results from today will be available here.