It was a beautiful morning for the Pink Army Breast Cancer 5K and one-mile walk

Hundreds of runners and walkers of all ages laced up their shoes to help those in need get breast cancer testing and screenings.

By Jacque Estes
| 7:57 p.m. October 30, 2016

Kelly Brasol and Joshua Brands accept their first-place trophies at the Pink 5K run/walk at Florida Hospital Flagler. Photo by Jacque Estes

Runners from Belle Terre Elementary pose with their banner after the race. Photo by Jacque Estes

Aiden Lafferty takes a swing at a breast cancer ribbon pinata, after the Pink Army 5K run/walk, at Florida Hospital Flagler on Sunday, Oct. 30. Photo by Jacque Estes

After her race, Abigail Smith, 1 1/2, "joins" the FPC Starlets team. Photo by Jacque Estes

Shoshana Ravede ran with her dad, Jim Ravede. Photo by Jacque Estes

Madelynn Fallon runs toward the finish line in the children's Fun Run. Photo by Jacque Estes

Margaret Subers and her granddaughter Madelynn Fallon. Photo by Jacque Estes

Kelly Brasol, a former FPC track star, ran the race in 20:22. Photo by Jacque Estes

Joshua Brands was the first to reach the finish line. He ran the race in 16:55. Photo by Jacque Estes

Angela Aguilar holds Lola Cardenas. Photo by Jacque Estes

Caprice Araque pets Sydney, while owner Katrina Austin looks on. Photo by Jacque Estes

Jack Lisenby sends candy flying as he swings at the pink ribbon pinata. Photo by Jacque Estes

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Before the sun was up, the grounds of Florida Hospital Flagler was awash in pink. Pink fire engines, pink tutus, pink T-shirts, and pink hair, all for the sixth annual Pink Army 5K Run/Walk.

A familiar female face crossed the finish line at the Pink Army 5K, 20:22 after she took off with the first running group. Kelly Brasol – Kelly Walker when she was a student and member of the track team at Flagler Palm Coast High School. The first person to cross the finish line, at 16:55, was Joshua Brands.

Toddler Madelynn Fallon ran the race, her first, with her mother, Kayleigh Fallon, and grandmother Margaret Subers. Grandpa is John Subers, the director of the Foundation at Florida Hospital Flagler.

Little Madelynn also showed up at the starting line for the Kids Fun Run at 8:45 a.m. The Fun Run took an early turn as the some of the small runner s veered off the course en masse. Dawn Lisenby, cowbell shaking in her hand, herded them back on course.

The 5K was hosted by Florida Hospital Flagler in partnership with the city of Palm Coast, the Women’s Initiative of United Way of Volusia/Flagler Counties, Chicks With Cans, the Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation, Flagler Schools and Flagler Beach.

All proceeds go toward assisting qualified patients in the community who are in need, helping to pay for mammograms, breast ultrasounds, stereotactic breast biopsies, education and other specific diagnostic services to aid in the early detection of breast cancer.

“I am proud to work with the City and the Pink Army on this race,” said Pink Army Chairwoman Helga van Eckert. “What a great way to get the community engaged and educated on the importance of screenings. I am also proud that the proceeds of the event will stay right here in Flagler County and assist those in our community in need.”