MCC launches Queen City Race for Life & Street Strut to honor survivors, raise funds
A wide array of pink pumpkins, cupcakes, shirts, hats, balloons, and shoes were all spotted during the announcement of the Queen City Race for Life and Street Strut for Breast Cancer, which is set for Saturday, Oct. 19.
The announcement, held at Meridian Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa Courtyard, ushered in the College’s observance as October being breast cancer awareness month. It also spotlighted the community residents serving as this year’s ambassadors and caregiver ambassador: Pam Mosley, Taymecca Sears, and Tom Bradshaw.
The race and strut pay tribute to breast cancer survivors and current breast cancer patients, increase breast cancer awareness and raise funds for the Baptist Cancer Center-Anderson Patient Benevolence Fund.
This year’s event includes a 5K run and walk, a one-mile fun run, and Survivor Street Strut; all activities begin at 8 a.m. at the MCC Track.
Phyllis Holladay, MCC math instructor and Phi Theta Kappa advisor who has helped to organize the event for more than 15 years noted this would be the fourth year the race and strut will be at the College; they were previously held in Downtown Meridian. Holladay remembered that when she was a first-year PTK advisor, the students in the academic organization wanted to recreate an event they had seen in another city. In that other city street strut, participants decorated umbrellas and paraded. “It was small but special as we joined the local CAREousel support group,” she said, explaining the local strut’s beginnings.
“Fast forward a year…and we joined forces with Cindy Kane, who wanted to start a breast cancer race event in honor of her sister, Judy Bounds. Now, this event is held in her memory. Cindy also provides a MCC scholarship to a MCC student each year in her sister’s name, and the student is honored at the race. A wonderful event and friendship have blossomed over the years,” Holladay said.
For the 2024 events, the races will start and end at the MCC Track, Holladay said. Packet pick-up will be on Friday, Oct. 18, in the Quave Student Life Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $22 for the races and $10 for the street strut.
To continue the month’s observance, MCC’s Women’s and Men’s Soccer teams will host Jones College on Tuesday, Oct. 15, and have Pink Out games to raise awareness and support for breast cancer, with Eagles wearing pink to show solidarity.
“As you can see, there are many ways for you to support and join the fun this year,” Holladay noted.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/streetstrut.