Strawberry cupcakes, strawberry punch and just plain strawberries! June 25 marked the second annual Strawberry Social put on by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. “The CIBC Run for the Cure is largest single-day, volunteer-led national event and is dedicated to creating future without breast cancer,” said co-run director Colin McIlveen. This event is for breast cancer survivors to gather and share their experiences, as well as to raise awareness for breast cancer and the fundraising run in the fall.

The evening had many strawberry-themed treats, including punch, cake and a Best Strawberry Dessert contest. There were also silent auctions with prizes ranging from gift cards to hotel accommodations. The night featured cancer survivor Marita DeVries, who was diagnosed with cancer three years ago, speaking about her breast cancer journey, what she learned from the experience and why she still supports CIBC Run for the Cure. “CIBC Run for the Cure are the people who help you get back up,” said DeVries.

CIBC Run for the Cure London site's co-run director Gillian Gallant was very pleased with the turnout, but she is hoping for more desserts to judge next time around. “That would be our goal: to get more survivors and their families out, and then we get more desserts,” said Gallant.

The Strawberry Social was part of CIBC Run for the Cure's Pink Week, which runs from June 23 to June 30; June 23 marked 100 days until the run, which will be held on September 30. Gallant said that Pink Week is a national event that is held to make people aware of the run, the Canadian Breast Cancer Association and the CIBC Run for the Cure.

There are many events going on this week. June 26 is the Pink Your Pup event at Greenway Park. Gallant said that everyone who has a dog is invited to the off-leash park to dress up his or her furry friend in pink. There will be judges awarding prizes for Best In Pink.

Pink Week also gets businesses involved with Paint It Pink. Gallant said this contest requires businesses to ‘pink up' an area or the front of their store. Once they've been pinked, they are to send in their story and upload their picture to Fresh FM, where they will be judged on June 30. There will be prizes awarded for Best Pink Display, Best Pink Menu and Best Employee Spirit. Prizes range in value from $250 to $1,031.

The main focus of this event is to create awareness throughout the city. “We hit Richmond Row, Wortley Village, downtown around King Street and (in) Byron. It was just to get a concentration of businesses that would decorate up in pink, so we could get people who go into the stores asking, ‘What's all the pink about?'” Gallant said.

These events are all leading up to the CIBC Run for the Cure, which takes place on September 30 in Victoria Park. Visit cbcf.org to volunteer, participate or donate.