More than 7,500 make strides in breast cancer 5k

There's a streak of pink running through parts of Richmond this afternoon.

More than 7,500 people participated in today's blustery 8th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K.

People of all stripes -- bundled up in myriad shades of pink -- kicked off the walk with dancing and cheering around 1:30 p.m. at the plazas at Eighth and Canal streets. The group is expected to raise roughly $500,000 for breast cancer research and support programs, according to event coordinators.

Around 1 p.m., throngs of people streamed through the plaza boogieing in front of the stage to stay warm and huddling for pictures. Despite temperatures in the 40s, thousands of people stayed engaged sharing memories of family members who had died of breast cancer and a steely determination to help the next generation.

"I came so that she doesn't have to," Chester resident Shelia Harlin said, pointing to her 11-year-old family member, Victoria Hughes, who traveled from North Carolina with her mom to walk in memory of her grandmother.

For more event coverage, see tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch.