Alex Liddell completed her third CIBC Run for the Cure at Calgary’s Southcentre Mall where she, her mother, and six others wearing tutus teamed up along with 8,000-Calgarians to raise $1.55-million for breast cancer research.

660 News caught up with Liddell who was waiting patiently past the finish line for the rest of her group to wrap up their five kilometre run.

Donned in a pink tutu and tank top, Liddell says her mother and some friends made the team costumes which also included “blinged-out tiaras and boob scarves.”

The group was running for Liddell’s neighbour, Sue Bentkowski; a breast cancer survivor who couldn’t make it out to the event due to a sore knee.

Calgarian Jim McCrea brought boys Memphis and Logan to the event. McCrea’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer and, after enduring a
bilateral mastectomy to get rid of the disease, was able to take part in the run.

“Last year was her first run and she’s now become a runner,” says McCrae, adding his wife has already completed a couple half-marathons.

“It’s been great. I’m so proud of her. She’s so strong,” he says, noting she also inspired him to dress in full pink regalia himself–including wig, feather boa and striped fuchsia and black socks.

Best friends of 34 years, Gayle Adams and Pat Penney took top women’s honours with their 17-member team, “The Breast Buddies.”  It was the team’s fourth time crossing the finish line and collecting the “Women’s Team Challenge” award.

Adams, a survivor who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, says some of her team members were actual strangers when they started out. When she finished cancer treatment in 2006, it was best friend Pat who suggested they start doing the walk.

“We just keep getting a bigger and bigger team,” says Adams.

Penney says this is the team’s seventh year walking together–and she hopes new research will make it their last. The Breast buddies raised a whopping $14,000 for breast cancer—the highest amount won in Calgary by an all-women’s team.

“Every cent that we collect goes to help some woman, someday, battle breast cancer,” says Penney.

“And maybe someday we won’t have to do this…maybe our daughters or granddaughters won’t have to do this. I certainly hope so.”