Students from the University of St. Augustine were all smiles while volunteering five hours at Pick Up the Pace 5K Packet pickup and it's fun to work with them.
It’s not easy to explain exactly why the ‘Pink Up the Pace’ 5K here is such a special, unique event. I’ve been blessed to participate in runs in a lot of states that benefit a lot of causes. However, the passion and enthusiasm of race organizers, volunteers and participants for this event that raises money to help fund imaging services for the uninsured and underinsured in St. Augustine and the surrounding area in the early detection of breast cancer is overwhelming.
I was lucky enough to meet race founder Cindy Ortiz Chacónas several years ago when I happened to be here and signed up for the run. I could not believe how many people could have on pink at 8 a.m. or how this event attracts all ages and ability levels because it is not about the finish — it’s about just finishing and helping a great cause.
It’s emotional for me when I see how many breast cancer survivors — Chacónas is one — take part in the 3.1-mile run/walk. The gathering of all survivors for a picture at the pink fire truck before the race is emotional for a lot of reasons.
Normally the run is through downtown historic St. Augustine and there are bands along the route as well as many shop owners dressed in historic costumes. This year downtown construction forced the race to move to the St. Augustine Beach pier to start. The course on the main road as well as several neighborhoods not only still had bands to entertain you but Chacónas once again recruited students to serve as race cheerleaders all along the route.
I think there were over 2,100 participants Saturday on a beautiful day and it was just a fun time with people smiling, talking, and celebrating life. Many groups form teams to honor specific cancer victims.
The race expo/packet pickup on Friday was also a memorable experience. Chacónas lets me volunteer and help occupational therapy students from the University of St. Augustine. There were about 18 students who could not have worked harder or been happier to spend five hours of their time on a Friday afternoon distributing race numbers, bags, and T-shirts to participants.
I love seeing the enthusiasm of all the Pink Up the Pace volunteers, but seeing university graduate students so eager to help is heartwarming — and being around that many 20-something folks kind of helps me feel younger and probably does the same for many others when they see all these smiles. Several of them were even back up at the race at 6 a.m. on Saturday to hand out more race packets.
The Pink Up the Pace 5K started in 2009 after Chacónas and her mother were diagnosed with breast cancer at about the same time. Chacónas’ passion to educate others about breast cancer warning signs and help those who need financial assistance is unbelievable.
So while the weather, beach, and history of St. Augustine all help make Pink Up the Pace enjoyable, it’s the passion of Chacón and many she inspires that make this 5K very, very special.
