Thousands Race for the Cure in Raleigh

Numbers showed that 22,700 people attended the race, which raised $1.75 million.

Now in its 13th year, it is the largest foot race in North Carolina and has raised more than $12 million to support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs.

"It is the most wonderful feeling ever to have so many people come out and support us ... I think I’ve only cried 100 times today," said seven-year cancer survivor Mary-Margaret Manlove. "I think the hardest thing is trying to be strong, because you have so many people that are trying to be strong for you and you want to be strong for them."

Sally Royster has been a Komen race participant for four years, the same amount of time she has been cancer-free. Royster said she wants to be there the day breast cancer is just a memory for women.

WRAL Anchor Pam Saulsby and her four teammates – together known as the Five Fighters – have been training for months for Saturday’s race.

To prepare, the Five Fighters trained together and also tried to increase breast cancer awareness.

The group, which includes Brenna Crowson, Aolani Lee Donegan, Sean Ikaika Hamre and Janice Reilly, stood near rush hour traffic along Glenwood Avenue last month to encourage drivers to honk for an end to the disease.

Last month, the group teamed up with race sponsor Whole Foods to invite people to register for the race. To celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day, the group painted a wall pink inside the Cancer Centers of North Carolina.

Hamre said he will think of his mother and other survivors while running the race this weekend. “That’s inspiring to see them fighting,” he said.

Reilly, a breast cancer survivor, said her children planned to run the race with her this year.

“I’ve been a runner…and it’s been a good thing in my life,” Reilly said. “So it’s really special to me (that) my kids have chosen this race to train for.”