ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K, 10K and one mile walk is next week. For one local woman the race has marked some pretty major milestones in her life.
Hunter Johnston was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 when she was just 29-years-old.
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"I was bracing for the worst, hoping for the best, and went in that Monday and the doctor said that I had breast cancer," Hunter explained.
She started treatment, including chemotherapy, and signed up for her first Race for the Cure.
The following year's race happened to fall on Hunter's wedding day and a friend suggested the wedding party run that morning.
"The more I kept thinking about it I was like, well my hair is kind of short and I'm not gonna have a whole lot to do that morning, so why not do it," she recalled. "We got a big team together and ran the race that morning and got married that evening."
She thought topping that moment would be hard - until she crossed the finish line last year with her six-week-old son in her arms.
It was a dream doctors said she had a 50-50 chance of making a reality.
"Last year, I just was thinking, oh my gosh we made it through waiting two years, and a year of trying to have him, and nine months worth of carrying him, and here he is in my arms and I was able to beat the cancer and able to become a mom," Hunter said.
"That was something I always wanted to do was become a mom. I have this perfect little boy, he's in my arms, I'm cancer free and I hope I will be that way for the rest of his life."
For Hunter, you could say Race for the Cure has marked a number of her life's milestones and the same goes again this year as she celebrates five years cancer free and she's officially called a "survivor."
If you would like to sign up for Race for the Cure,
click here
.