Breast cancer survivor - racing for a cure

By: Benita Zahn

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Nothing like a sunny fall day to get Suzee Bellens Finlayson out for a run. It's something she loves doing and something that kept her focused on recovery after her breast cancer diagnosis 3 years ago. And now she's using that passion to help others as the honorary new balance team member for this year's Komen Race for the cure.

"Yeah, I'm getting new clothes." she jokes but then explains, in this role she can share her passion for running, for teaching, for helping, in a bigger way.
   That bigger way involves sharing her passion with the girls cross country team at the Albany Academy for Girls. They'll be joining her at this year's race for the cure.

"When you're racing you're doing it for yourself. But with this race you're doing it or other people who have, you know, survived with cancer and I think it's a really important cause" says 18 year old Morgan Wojtuski. Her thoughts are echoed by 16 year old Amara Steenburn

"It's gonna fell really good to be doing this for a good cause, for breast cancer."

   That these young women understand the power of women helping each other is part of why Suzee is working with this group. She knows - the more people she imbues with her enthusiasm and passion the greater the support for those going through breast cancer - the more money that will be raised.

" There's life on the other side of cancer whatever there's, they need to know because through experience I'm on the other side of it now and I an really see that there is that happy place you get to after it's all over."

The race for the cure is Saturday, October 6th, 9am at the Empire State Plaza. You can register that morning for the 5k run.