Byline: Detroit Race for the Cure
Saturday, April 20, 2002 dawned 30 degrees cooler than it had
been all week and the streets at 7 a.m. were still wet from heavy
rain during the night. Undaunted by the hour or the weather, four
Team MDMLG stalwarts Daria Drobny, Misa Mi, Sandra Studebaker, and
Wendy Wu met, as planned, at the huge Millennium Bell sculpture in
Grand Circus Park near Comerica [baseball] Park prior to the 9
a.m. start of the Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure. Jill
Van Buskirk, another team member, was said to be present, but we
never found one another.
After waiting at the Millennium Bell as long as possible for
the remaining ten members of Team MDMLG, followed by a last minute
visit to the line of portable privies, the fearless foursome
plunged into the throng of walkers passing under the balloon arch
starting point on Woodward Avenue just south of I-75. Camaraderie
was high among the 25,000 runners and walkers in the 11th
annual event hosted by Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.
Heading northbound on Woodward, walkers were directed to the
west side of the street to allow room for southbound runners
returning on the east side of Woodward. Just before Warren Avenue
the route turned right onto Hancock, past the Meyer L. Prentis
Cancer Research Center, then right again on John R Street past the
VA Medical Center, another right on a narrow side street, then
left onto southbound Woodward.
Along the way alert participants were treated to sights of
historical interest such as the Fox Theatre, Motown Records
Headquarters, Brush Park Historic District, Orchestra Hall, and
the Cathedral Church of St. Paul. Bands from various Detroit
schools stationed along the 5K (3.1 mile) route and a group of
singers on the steps of a church provided entertainment for an
appreciative audience of men, women and children. The balloon arch
start/finish point came sooner than expected, or desired, for the
sun had burst forth from overcast skies to shine on the parade of
enthusiastic participants.
Back at Comerica Park, following another "pit-stop,"
the fearless foursome elbowed their way through the vendor area
for remnants of free "goodies" before going their
separate ways. The goodies, commemorative T-shirt and cloisonné
pin provide tangible evidence of the event. The intangible comes
from memories of the shared experience and participating as a team
in a worthwhile community event--in this case, breast cancer
research and education.
Team MDMLG Co-Captains Sandra Studebaker and Wendy Wu sincerely
thank everyone who supported the team entry in this year's Detroit
Race for the Cure whether by active participation, monetary
contribution, or organizational support and encouragement.
MDMLG Race For The Cure 2001 Team Members gathered at the Millennium
Bell in Grand Circus Park prior to the start of the Race.
