For some, Dewey Goes Pink takes on new meaning

DEWEY BEACH, Del. – Thousands of runners, walkers and supporters dressed up in their favorite shade of pink Saturday for the annual Dewey Goes Pink 5K.

It’s a special weekend for everyone who takes part.  Some lace ’em up every year.

For others, it’s their first time.  Like Steve Caldwell from Rehoboth, part of Team Betty Ann.

Betty Ann McGinnis, Steve’s aunt, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July.  She had surgery to remove it that month.

She is now a breast cancer survivor, thanks to her yearly mammogram.

“This year was the first time anything showed up.  And it was suspicious so we went and got some tests done and all that.  And it was cancer,”

Like many others, she says she never thought she would be diagnosed with the disease.

She says following her diagnosis, she and her husband, Frank, cried “for about a month.”

But following surgery, and with her last treatment on October 15, she is back to full strength.

Now Dewey Goes Pink takes on a whole new meaning for Betty Ann and those around her.

“It’s just a great way to come out and support her and so many other people that go through that situation,” said Steve Caldwell.

“It means everything.  It was delightful today, walking with everybody and it just makes up feel good,” said Betty Ann.

Over the past seven years, the event has raised $400,000, with $95,000 raised just last year.

And all of that money stays in Sussex County to help locals like Betty Ann.

“It’s a lot of money for the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition.  As much as possibly can go to them does go to them.  It’s a great thing,” said Caldwell.

And some of that money goes toward prevention, such as mammograms, an all important check up that can save so many lives.

“Everybody should do that for sure.  Every year.  Because I get mine every year and it just happened to show up,” said Betty Ann.

Registration for the race ended early this year with over 2,600 runners.  If you are interested in running in next year’s event, mark your calendars down for Saturday, October 5, 2019.