300 Teams Registered For Race For The Cure, Including One Tulsa School

By LeAnne Taylor, The News On 6

TULSA, OKLAHOMA -- There are already more than 300 teams registered for this year's Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Tulsa.

Some of those are corporate teams; some are just families who want to show their support. But there's one school team that keeps coming back year after year and I wanted to find out why.

"Eat Right. Be fit. Work hard. Never quit."

That's the live right rap that Linda Hilsabeck has taught her students at Lee Elementary School in Tulsa.

She's been the PE teacher at the school for the past 18 years.

"They know that you have to pay attention to your body and the live right rap we try to get all the aspects and you just have to take care of yourself, listen to your body and have regular checkups and we do a while health, hygiene and it's just part of it," said Linda Hilsabeck.

It was during one of those regular checkups, Linda's sister Patty found a lump and was told it was breast cancer. She says it was a real eye opener to just how prevalent this disease is.

"It's my sister, my husband's mother, my husband's cousin, the two ladies in my neighborhood, it's teacher's here. Everyone knows someone," said Linda Hilsabeck.

So for the last several years, Linda has encouraged her students, faculty and parents to join the Lee Elementary School team to participate in the Komen Race for the Cure.

They've even won awards from the race for the most student participation and with that a little money to help build a track for future runners.

Last year, there were nearly 200 participants on the Lee Team and Linda is hoping for even more this year.

In fact, her sister's diagnosis has prompted other people to form a team.

"Ms. Shelly's School of Dance is doing it. My sister takes adult tap there so they're doing TuTu's for TaTa's and so they're encouraging their group now to participate so every team we get makes the numbers go up and the donations go up so that's the overall goal I think," said Linda Hilsabeck.

When Linda Hilsabeck heads out to race this year, her back tag will be honoring those who have battled breast cancer and won.

She hopes her daily lessons in healthy living will be something her students learn well and that will last them a lifetime.

Race for the Cure is getting close, so if you're thinking of signing up, you'll want to do so soon. And even if you aren't able to participate, you can still donate.

Seventy-five percent of every dollar raised stays in Tulsa to help in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

For more information, check out LeAnne's page on NewsOn6.com.