The diagnosis was a shock, Gundersen said Saturday, because there was no history of the disease in her family. But in the ensuing months, as she underwent surgery, chemo and radiation therapy, the Washington potato farmer felt enveloped in the love from her friends and family.

"It was tough, but I don't regret the experience," Gundersen said, "The love I felt was more powerful than cancer by far."

Gundersen and Kari Loving, her best friend since preschool, were among about 17,000 pink-clad participants in Saturday's 12th annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Salt Lake City.

The two were running hand-in-hand for another friend, Shannon Wilson Cloward, who is enduring cancer.

"You feel that you're there with her every step of the way," said Loving.

Pairs of survivors and supporters were common during the 5K and 1 mile walk/run. So were teams of friends with playful names, such as the Rack Pack, Bosom Buddies, Team Tough Titties, Victorious Secret, Our Cups Runneth Over, Jerome Jigglers, Hot Pink Magnas and Barbie's Buddies.

Salt Lake City orthodontist Michael Richards brought together between 75 and 80 patients and families to join the race on behalf of two staff members who were recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Velda Thornley of Logan, who battled cancer eight years ago, crossed the finish line with her five daughters who came from Pocatello, St. George and Los Angeles on the day before Mother's Day.

"We are running to honor our Mom and to be together," said daughter Teresa Nielsen of Roy. "She's our hero."

The winning survivors from today's race were: John Morgan, male, and Robyn Simonsen, Ann Calder and Sheri Bennett.

The race's atmosphere may have been celebratory but its purpose is sobering.

In the greater Salt Lake City area, there are more than 1,400 reported cases of breast cancer and at least 210 will die from the disease this year, according to race chair Bob Weaver.

It is estimated that one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes and one woman will die of it every 13 minutes. In the U.S., a woman has about a 12 percent, or one in eight, lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. By this year's 25th anniversary of the national event, it has become the largest series of 5k runs/fitness walks in the world, with more than 1 million participants since 2005. The funds are used for research and education.

"We're proud to say that [in Utah] we've raised more than $3 million since our first race in 1997," Weaver said in a news release.

Ellen Thorp, past race chairwoman and current media specialist, was thrilled by this year's turnout.

"This is a huge testimony to the level of community support we get," said Thorp. "Regardless of what is happening in our world financially, they are going to be there for the survivors and the future survivors. They are not going to go away."

Planning the race requires enormous organizational efforts, she said, pointing to the countless hours contributed by the race committee and more than 600 volunteers.

For Thorp, it's worth it.

The research is working and so is education.

The more women get mammograms and do self-examinations, the earlier the diagnosis, and more women can survive.

Today, more than 2.5 million are breast cancer survivors in the U.S., she said.

It's also personal.

"We carry the ball for the ones who are no longer with us," Thorp said. "I lost a dear, dear friend of mine on December 22, 2005. I do it for Donna. I know she is with me every step of the way."

pstack@sltrib.com