A crowd of more than 7,000 runners and volunteers created a sea of pink in the Southcentre Mall parking lot for the 20th annual CIBC Run for the Cure and organizers say this year’s donations exceeded expectations given the current economic climate.

The Calgary contingent was amongst the more than 100,000 Canadians to take part in the 5K charity run or 1K charity walk on Sunday. Per capita, Calgary’s donations eclipsed the numbers from the 2014 event.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) is the recipient of funds collected during the events. Calgary’s CIBC Run for the Cure raised the second most funds of the 6,000 events held in Canada on Sunday. The Toronto event raises the largest amount of donations.

“I think it’s amazing what the foundation does and the money stays within the Prairies-Northwest region,” said Kate Pointon, CIBC Run for the Cure director. “We were able to go up to Edmonton to see some of the research with the doctors and it was a great experience.”

Robin Sparks, member of the CBCF Advisory Council for the Prairies Region has been involved in the fight against breast cancer for roughly 20 years.

“Years and years ago, I had an opportunity to work with a lot of women who in the early days of finding out they had breast cancer,” said Sparks. “It just really inspired me to get involved somehow.”

In November of 2014, Sparks’ niece, 26-year-old Samantha Price of Ottawa, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. A month after the devastating news, Samantha’s mother was also diagnosed.

“There’s not much I can do from far away,” explained Sparks, “Raising some money to help find a cure for breast cancer so that we can live in a world without breast cancer is why everyone is here today.”

Breast cancer survivor Janis Simmons addressed the crowd prior to the start of Sunday’s run. She said her experience on stage, while nerve racking, paled in comparison to the difficulties she encountered while battling the disease.

“When you come here as a survivor, you get to connect with other survivors,” said Simmons. “They’re the sisters that I’ve never had.”

“We get to cheer each other on, we inspire each other…It’s such a beautiful and loving and awesome and amazing sisterhood.”

The 2015 CIBC Run for the Cure raised $1,092,298 for the CBCF.