TUPELO – With pink boxing gloves at the ready, the organizers of the Komen North Mississippi Race for the Cure challenged the region to fight like a girl Friday.

“We’re really excited to kick off our Lucky 13th year for Race for the Cure,” said Teri Browder-Radcliff, affiliate coordinator.

Because of gains in early diagnosis and treatment, more women are beating breast cancer and living full lives after diagnosis, but groups like Komen still need people to join the fight the disease.

Breast cancer survivor Ruth Baldwyn traded a few playful jabs with friend and fellow survivor Vickie Arnold at Friday’s race kickoff at the Tupelo Police Athletic League.

Baldwyn and her husband, Charles, have participated in the annual event for four years.

Baldwyn said she loves the awareness and sense of solidarity in the fight against breast cancer during the race.

“Maybe, we’re helping someone feel like there’s some hope,” Baldwyn said.

This year, the race is slated for Oct. 23 at The Mall at Barnes Crossing. Organizers are planning for nearly 4,000 participants for the 5K run-walk and 1-mile fun run.

“Seventy-five percent of the net income from this race stays in our community and is used to fund breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment projects in 15 counties in Northeast Mississippi,” said Pam Hadley, north Mississippi race chairwoman.

The remaining 25 percent goes to fund the national Komen for the Cure’s Award and Research Program.

The more participants in the annual race means the organization can provide more mammograms to the underserved, Radcliff said.