Daughter Of Cancer Survivor Races For The Cure

LeAnne Taylor, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Last year, more than 12,000 people turned out for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Some were serious runners, some were breast cancer survivors, but many were family members showing their support.

Tulsan Debbie Hamilton is one of those family members. Every year since 2000, Debbie can be found helping in the Susan G. Komen Race for Cure. She races for her mom who's a breast cancer survivor.

"Whenever she had this exam and said it's breast cancer, everyone was scared to death I would go ballistic," said Debbie Hamilton, daughter of a breast cancer survivor. "I walked in very strong and said it's ok, we'll get through it, and life will go on, and it'd be fine."

That was 28 years ago and Debbie's mom has beaten the cancer. Now her whole family comes together each fall to race.

"Along with all of that I have the American Airlines family, and you can see in the pictures of all the American Airlines family that has got with me and we've all come together," Debbie said. "American has done very well since we started doing this."

Very well indeed.

Debbie led American's team by raising more than $7,000. and the company's commitment goes even further. American is a lifetime partner with Komen, pledging $1 million each year for eight years to help find a cure. In 2008, American Airlines unveiled two planes that display the pink breast cancer ribbon on the side of the plane.

Now there are eight planes total.

"And I even have some of my mechanics - if they fly some where and they pull up at the gate and there's the airplane - they'll send me a picture or they'll email me. ‘Hey, guess what I'm riding on,'" she said. "So yes, a lot of people are involved, and they know I'm involved so I hear a lot of stories."

Debbie has worked at American for 23 years. As a production supervisor she oversees 58 employees, almost all of them men.

"The people that work with me help promote it. We have meetings; I just had a meeting with my crew last week and I said, 'ok, guess what? The Komen Race is coming up. I need you to get in there. I need you to help me,'" she said.

Debbie Hamilton, daughter of a breast cancer survivor, is proud of her crew and her company.

She will be there with her team - Hamilton's Heroes – and hopes other will join them in the race for a cure.

Registration is underway, so if you're interested in putting together a team or joining my team, it's very simple to sign up to race.

I already have 41 people registered - I hope you will too! The race is Saturday September 17th, and it's moving to OneOK Field.

Just click on this link and follow the prompts.