Hundreds 'Step Up For Cancer' At Dick's Sporting Goods Park

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (CBS4) - Hundreds of people laced up their sneakers on Sunday and hit the stairs at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. It was all part of "Step Up for Cancer."

The event benefits dozens of nonprofit cancer organizations. CBS4's Vic Lombardi emceed the event.

"I wasn't sure I could have children … so it's good to have (her son) and enjoy this with him," cancer survivor Jessica Breiding said.

Forty-five Colorado nonprofit cancer organizations joined forces for the fourth Step Up for Cancer event.

"To raise awareness and money for as many cancer organizations as we can at one time," said Heather Rule Grady, co-event director.

And to celebrate cancer survivors, like Justin Miller. He's 9 years old and has beat cancer not once, but five times.

"It really is for helping kids, helping doctors, so they can find a cure for cancer," Justin Miller said.

"It's amazing and I'm here with him, and he's here with us and we get to do this together and I don't know a better day or feeling than seeing him succeed at doing this," Justin's mother Lori Miller said.

Climbing 1,765 stairs is not an easy task for anyone, but it's an especially remarkable accomplishment for cancer survivor David McCabe.

"I just had to kind of tried to pace myself. It was tiring as heck, but it was good," McCabe said.

Twenty-three bone cancer surgeries left McCabe without a leg, but that didn't stop him from tackling the stairs for the second time.

"I like to stand down there and watch these guys come around that last turn and just see the determination on their faces; they care about the cause, and that's alright," McCabe said.

More than 1,300 people, each with a reason, each step, one closer to a cure.

The goal for this year's event was to exceed last year's total of $140,000. Event organizers say they have no doubt they surpassed that amount.

LINK: Step Up for Cancer