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Gearing Up for the Race for the Cure

SCRANTON — Runners and walkers continued to register for the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure, including a mom of five girls. For the agencies in our area...

SCRANTON -- Runners and walkers continued to register for the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure, including a mom of five girls.

For the agencies in our area that get help from the Komen Foundation, they hope there's a rush on registrations.

At Northeast Regional Cancer Institute they are especially rooting for success, less funding last year meant no Komen money for specialized genetic testing.

"That is a critical resource that is no longer available... at least for this year, we're hoping next year that will be different," said Laura Toole of the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute.

The cancer institute offered the same genetic testing used by Angelina Jolie to detect her extreme risk for a form of breast cancer.

Thanks to Komen money, that $4,000 test was free, until this year.

"So that's a critical piece that for women, that are at increased risk it provides really helpful information not just for themselves but for the entire family, it's hereditary so it's really the entire family," said Toole.

The Komen Foundation says they hope it's the biggest turnout ever because the money goes a long way.

"It's very taxing on you very emotional and physically so just knowing that people are willing to come out and raise funds to put and end to breast cancer is really important," said Chris Ostroski, a breast cancer survivor.

Chris Ostroski is a breast cancer survivor. She runs Candy's Place in Forty Fort, which offers many programs for cancer patients and their families.

Ostroski has been part of several Races For The Cure in Scranton. She's one of the leading fundraisers this year.

Last year, lower Komen Foundation funding affected a yoga program for breast cancer patients at Candy's Place.

Both agencies that lost Susan G. Komen Foundation funding still have a close relationship with Komen in Northeastern Pennsylvania and hope to get funding back this year.

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