Story of the Run

Run for Mom organizing committee 2009 — top row, l to r: Leah Wittrock, Julie Haywood, Jill Kovac, Pat Living, Cindy Fleischman; Bottom row, l to r: Jocelyn Costello, Val Pike, Michelle Boleen, Vicki Stallabrass (Missing: Cheryl Davy, Lorri Hume, Kelly Steele, Louise Fedoriak)

In October 1997, Tamara Goeppel and Donna Jones organized the Yukon's first breast cancer run, a CIBC Run for the Cure. It was a successful event that involved the community and raised more than $40,000 for breast cancer research. As a national event that raises money for research, all but $18,000 left the Yukon. This money was the first deposit toward the new mammogram machine that was purchased for the Whitehorse General Hospital in 2002.

Knowing that there was support for the event and with a desire to keep funds within the Yukon, where the need for equipment was immediate, a new plan took flight.

On Mother's Day in 1999, Tamara, Donna and an organizing committee made up of volunteers, community members and hospital staff, launched the first Yukon Run for Mom to raise money for breast health awareness. Since then, Tamara and Donna have moved on, but their legacy continues to build. The torch was passed to Val Pike, who has been chair of the Run for Mom since 2000.