PRINT ADS

The numbers fell into place for Kaitlin Bruden Sunday at the 27th annual American Cancer Society/United HealthCare 5K Family Run/Walk: fourth time, 33:50, fifth place, eight years.

Bruden is a cancer survivor — it said so right on the little flashing light she wore — who ran the 3.2-mile event in 33 minutes, 50 seconds.

“It’s just about the time I was hoping for,” said the Onalaska High School sophomore.

She, her family and a coterie of friends were evident by their customized run T-shirts, tie-dyed green and labeled on the back “Kaitlin’s Krew.”

For the fourth year, the group participated in the run/walk, and Bruden progressed from walking to this year’s very respectable run that earned her fifth place for female cancer survivor.

Burden said she should not be defined as a cancer survivor but a young woman.

“Cancer is not who I am. It is just part of who I am,” Bruden said.

About 1,600 runners and walkers participated in Sunday’s event, including honorary co-chairs Ray and Joyce White of Onalaska. After starting runners — Joyce gave the “ready, set” and Ray fired the starter’s pistol — Joyce took off with the walkers.

The event is one of the biggest fundraisers for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. The group hoped to net $90,000, part of which it uses for local services such as a patient service navigator.

“When a person is diagnosed with cancer, the navigator gets in touch with them and helps them through the system,” cancer society spokesperson Kathryn Murphy said.

The annual American Cancer Society/United HealthCare 5K Family Run/Walk is in its 27th year and has been sponsored by Midwest Security United Healthcare for about the past 24 years, according to Susan Colliton. She represents the Onalaska firm in organizing the event.

“It’s a year-round job,” she said.