Editor’s note: This story was originally published on momaha’s sister site, LiveWellNebraska.com
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By Katy Healey
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Downtown Omaha will turn pink, the color of breast cancer awareness, this weekend.
More than 13,000 people are registered for the 19th annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Sunday. The 5K is an opportunity to remember those who lost their battle with cancer, celebrate those who won and race for those who are fighting the disease. Whether the walkers and runners are signed up for their mom, grandma, aunt, wife, sister, best friend or themselves, everyone will dress in shades of pink.
Their shirts, shorts and shoes are often punctuated with a fuchsia or cotton candy-colored accessory. A feather boa, a tiara, a bowtie. Many wear homemade creations, the product of rhinestones and craft glue.
Join the masses and unleash your creativity for this weekend’s Race for the Cure.
We’ll help get you started.
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K
Sunday, CenturyLink Center Omaha
10th and Cass Streets in downtown Omaha
Online registration closes Wednesday
Register in person on race day
Schedule of Events
7:45 a.m. Survivor group photo
8:15 a.m. 5K run for timed runners
8:45 a.m. 5K run and walk for casual runners
9:15 a.m. 1-mile walk
WEAR your words
Spread the word with a homemade shirt. Wet a plain white T-shirt in cold water, and wring out excess water. Place a water-resistant board — the lid of a bin, for example — between the two layers of fabric (the front and back of the shirt). Create your design — including a catchy phrase, if you want — with Elmer’s Blue Gel Glue. Let the glue dry completely — for several hours or overnight. Soak the T-shirt in a fabric dye bath. Remember, the shirt will be lighter than the color of the water. Let it dry, then soak it in cold, soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes to wash away extra glue. Wash and dry as you would a normal shirt.
Here are some suggested slogans:
» Save second base.
» I pink I can, I pink I can.
» Yes, they’re fake. My real ones tried to kill me.
» Fight like a girl.
» Check your lumps for bumps.
» Cancer is a word, not a sentence.
» Pink power.
» Real men wear pink.
» Peace, love and hope for a cure.
» Think pink.
Woman excited to compete this year
Jenni Greer will join the throng of pink in Omaha for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Sunday.
It will be her third year participating but her first as a runner.
“I’m really excited to run this one,” she said. “It will be a different experience.”
Greer, of Omaha, signed up to walk with a team in 2010. She enjoyed the experience so much that she signed up the next year as an individual and walked the 5K course. When she signed up for this weekend’s event, she opted to run competitively.
“I decided to get a timer chip,” said Greer, 33. “We’ll see how it goes.
She plans to wear pink, of course. She’ll sport the race’s official shirt with purple- and bubblegum-colored beads and a pink hat.
Greer said she’ll leave the costumes to the more creative participants. She enjoys seeing groups dressed alike in garb made specially for the race.
“That’s my favorite part, seeing the creative things people come up with,” she said.
The sayings, printed across T-shirts, always make her laugh.
“Big or small, save ‘em all” and “tutus for tatas” stick out in her mind.
She said breast cancer survivors like her friend and grandma appreciate the festive atmosphere, too.
“They need that lighter side,” Greer said. “They love it.”
Race director Karen Daneu called the race a celebration.
“It takes away from chemotherapy and losing your hair and radiation and feeling sick,” she said. “Once a year, you can go out and say, ‘We have the strength, we have the determination, and we are going to overcome.’”
Bra
Pick up a plain black, white or gray bra from a department store, and decorate it with rhinestones, buttons and other embellishments. You can also write fun phrases with puff paint. “Save second base,” “Think pink,” and “Thanks for the mammaries” are popular options. Wear the finished product over a plain tank top.
It’s tutu time
Nothing says pink like a tutu. Stop by a fabric store to pick up six to 12 yards of tulle for an adult tutu. The more fabric, the poofier the tutu. You can also purchase four 25-yard spools of precut tulle. Cut the tulle into strips and tie to a belt or attach to elastic. You can purchase elastic from the craft store, but you’ll need to sew the ends together.
Nail art
Choose two shades of pink nail polish. A light and dark version work best. Pour both colors onto a paper plate — each drop should be about the size of a nickle — and swirl the colors together with a toothpick. Use a sponge to press down on the polish. Then press the sponge onto your nail. Remove the polish on your skin with a Q-Tip dipped in nail polish remover.
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