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Hundreds Take Part in Race for the Cure

The rain did not seem to stop anyone's mind on Sunday morning that the waves of people flooded the South Mountain Recreational Complex in West Orange for the fourth annual North Jersey Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

The 5 km run and 5 km walk attracted over 7,500 participants, some dressed in pink and others wore T-shirts celebrating loved ones who have survived breast cancer.

Among the finishers were Michael Hamilton Belleville residents (with a time of 27:17.9), Eduardo Gonzalez (28:47.4), Marie Messina (33:36.5) and Geronimo Damarys (36:18.3). 

For West Orange resident and recent breast cancer victim Sharon Scalora, the endless sea of pink encouraged her fight against the disease. 

"You can see all these people here that are survivors, every single one of them has been through it so that helps me," said Scalora. "Knowing that they were able to do it, I will be able to do it. I have to do it."

Scalora, 43, is a mother of three. She found out she had cancer in January and is  currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment. 

"Treatment is hard because there's a feeling that you have cancer and you want to be able to enjoy your life, but when you're in treatment, there's no enjoying of much," she said. 

Scalora is one of thousands of women — and men — that get diagnosed with the disease every year.

NBC correspondent for the Today Show, Hoda Kotb, is another one of those women. She was diagnosed in 2007.  

As the Official Breast Cancer Survivor Ambassador and Honorary Chair for the event, Kotb stood on stage dancing and singing with all the women that, like her, had survived the disease. 

"If you survive breast cancer, or anything big, you've got four words," said Kotb to the crowd. "You Can't Scare Me."

"It helps you realize your life has margins and you stop wasting time," Kotb told Patch. "A lot of times in life you say I'll do it tomorrow I'll do it the next day. Today I was all here, and it's exactly where I wanted to be."

The five hour event raked in an initial $1.3 million for cancer research. Event organizers, though, said they expect final fundraising numbers to reach $1.5 million, a $100,000 increase from last year's event. 

"It's hard to believe breast cancer still needs more awareness, but the reality is only 50 percent of women over the age of 40 get an annual mammogram, so we do have to be more aware," said Lisa Gallipoli, executive director of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, North Jersey affiliate.

Euroleague Final Four 2011 Side Shows and Spectacles ...

The  Euroleague Final Four 2011  is best known for the sports spectacle and the most intense level of basketball in Europe. However, the organizers for the Final Four weekend in Barcelona this May 6 and 8 has put up more side shows and spectacles for fans to enjoy and be entertained. There are two main acts that fans can look forward to when they travel to Barcelona – Minyons de Terrassa and the Crazy Dunkers.

The city of Catalonia in Spain are known for its athletic feats, art, and architecture. The castellers, like Minyons de Terrassa, represent all of that with the castellers and entertain fans with the traditional man made skyscrapers that will surely drop jaws to the ground! In fact, this art form is so unique that UNESCO has recognized them as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The group is one of the top in the region and it will surely be a treat for fans at Palau Sant Jordi. Since it was founded in 1979, they had been very popular not just in Catalonia, but also in Barcelona and the rest of Spain. They are capable of producing various levels and heights of human dance squad, which is beyond anything that most have witnessed. For those who are aficionados of unique dance performances, then this is an additional treat aside from the exciting basketball action at the Euroleague Final Four 2011.

Aside from Minyons de Terrassa, fans can also expect the Crazy Dunkers in Barcelona on the Final Four weekend. The squad are high flyers and dunking squad from France, who were first seen at the 2007 Final Four in Athens.They presented several highlights for the fans who attended the Final Four four years ago and were invited back by Turkish Airlines to provide an alternative for fans of thrills.

The Crazy Dunkers are part of the program of events and festivities at the Euroleague Final Four. Thus, fans can expect a single slam dunk show that combines music, rhythm, acrobatic performance and the skills of basketball wild. However, they are not only aerobatic team in the Final Four this year, because they will be joined by Xtreme Squad. Aside from acrobatic performances, they will also be giving out T-shirts, memorabilia, and offer games for fans to have fun during the break from basketball action.

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