Growing stronger

Bryce Alderton

Breast cancer survivors clad in pink hats and pink shirts waved their

pink pom-poms while Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” played on the

loudspeakers Sunday.

Ara Ishkhanian looked over, smiled and said, “This is amazing. It’s my

first time being here. I’ve been looking forward to today.”

Ishkhanian joined about 36,150 others Sunday at Fashion Island in

Newport Beach to celebrate the 10th annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer

Foundation’s Race For The Cure.

Sally Coombe, spokeswoman for the race, called Sunday’s crowd

“record-breaking,” with about 26,150 registered walkers and runners.

Another 10,000 spectators supported the participants.

Coombe said she expects funds from the race to total $1.5 million, up

from $1.36 million last year, by Oct. 12, the donation deadline.

Ishkhanian’s wife, Charlene, 26, was diagnosed with breast cancer in

March after she discovered a lump.

Doctors at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena were able to

detect the tumor early enough to biopsy it, but Ishkhanian, a nurse,

still had to go through radiation treatment every day for six weeks and

one chemotherapy session every three weeks.

“I was just staying strong and supporting her,” Ishkhanian said.

And support for everyone was evident during Sunday’s festivities.

About 75 of “Kathy’s Prayer Warriors” gathered in a motor home Sunday

to treat Kathy Neff, a Newport Beach resident, to a breakfast and a

post-race lunch.

The “warriors” wore yellow hats in support of Neff, 42, who’s

undergone chemotherapy treatment since being diagnosed with breast cancer

in July.

“It’s an overwhelming experience of everyone uniting and the support

everyone has for everybody,” said a smiling Neff, sporting her pink shirt

and hat.

The Neff group participated in the coed 5K walk Sunday morning.

“She’s been amazing, such strength,” said Nancie Carpenter, a family

friend who also lives in Newport Beach.

Breast cancer survivors paraded to the steps of the building -- each

receiving a red rose -- and joined in a tribute.

Sandy Firestone, an 18-year breast cancer survivor and current

president of the Orange County Affiliate of the Komen foundation, spoke

encouraging words to the crowd of survivors, friends, family and

volunteers.

“Together we can win this race. When people care, miracles can

happen,” Firestone said.

The parade and tribute capped an emotional day filled with smiles,

hugs, tears and sweat.

Estella Scott had the video camera out as the first race of the day,

the women’s 5K run/walk, began at 7:35 a.m.

“I love to take the moments,” Scott said, smiling.

Accompanied by her mother, sister and niece, Scott walked for the

second year.

Asked what she thought about the amount of people gathered on Sunday,

Scott said, “I realize there’s so many [survivors], all wanting to find a

cure.”

Peggy Fleming, a figure skating champion and breast cancer survivor,

ran the women’s 5K run, and teamed up with Atairgin Technologies Inc., an

Irvine-based company dedicated to finding new ways for early detection of

both breast and ovarian cancer in women.

Sitting in a chair and looking out at the racers walking along Newport

Coast Drive, Fleming noticed the “love of life” present in people at

Sunday’s event.

“This love, fun and enthusiasm is all infectious,” she said.

Fleming said participating in health care and getting regular

mammogram checkups are keys for women in helping them detect cancer early

enough.

“The most important [device] is you, paying attention to yourself,”

she said.

Fleming was diagnosed in 1998, after finding a lump when she stretched

in front of a mirror.

“If I had just stood there, I wouldn’t have seen it. I was real

lucky,” she said.

Fleming had six weeks of radiation treatments and a lumpectomy, but

didn’t have to endure chemotherapy.

Patrick Walsh, chief executive for Atairgin said the company aims to

develop reliable detection tools for ovarian and breast cancer and is

currently developing an early detection blood test for the cancers.

“Hopefully at the same time next year we will have commercial tests

for people,” Walsh said, noting that about 60 Atairgin volunteers

participated in the race.

The race has generated $6.2 million since 1992 to fight breast cancer.

Of the funds, 25% go to the Komen Foundation Research Program, and 75%

stay in Orange County for breast health education, screening, diagnosis

and treatment services.

* BRYCE ALDERTON is the news assistant. He may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at o7 bryce.alderton@latimes.comf7 .