The streets of Bangor will be awash with pink on Saturday as thousands of runners and walkers head to town for the 6th annual Komen Race for the Cure.

According to race director Susan Patten, last year’s event attracted 3,200 participants, making it one of the largest races in the state.

One secret to the Race for the Cure’s success: It draws not only serious runners – though there will be plenty of those in attendance – but also people who may only enter one event per year.

“I get a lot of calls from people and they want to know, ‘Can I just walk? I don’t have to run, do I?'” Patten said. “I say, ‘No, of course you can walk. You can even sit down and take a break if you want.'”

The Race for the Cure celebrates survivors of breast cancer, mourns those who have succumbed, and takes an active role in fighting the disease by donating its proceeds toward research and outreach programs.

Race-day registration begins at 6:30 a.m., while a survivors ceremony will begin at 8. The 1K race begins at 8:45 and the 5K starts at 9:15.

Patten said the visual image of thousands of runners leaving the starting line is special.

“It’s very powerful,” she said. “The real purpose and the most rewarding purpose for the race is to see what we call ‘the sea of pink.'”

Patten explained that every cancer survivor who attends Saturday’s race will receive a pink shirt to wear during the race, and the number of people wearing those jerseys is always impressive.

In addition, Patten said participants are encouraged to stop by the survivor tent and fill out “back cards,” which are placards commemorating people special to them.

According to the Maine Affiliate’s Web site (www.komenmaine.com) the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker in honor of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died following a three-year battle with breast cancer at the age of 36.

Since then, the national foundation has raised more than $400 million and funded 583 research grants.

The Komen Maine Affiliate was established in 1997 and has awarded more than $400,000 to in-state programs that provide education, screening and outreach programs to the under-served and uninsured population.

In addition, it has directed more than $100,000 to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Research Program.

Patten stressed the local emphasis of the race.

“About 75 percent of the net proceeds stay right in our local fund and with that the Komen Affiliate distributes grant money to a variety of medical programs throughout the state,” she said. “About 25 percent goes to the foundation’s national research program.”

Luchini’s squad ranked high

Former Ellsworth High School star Louie Luchini enters his fourth year at Stanford University as a key cog on one of the nation’s top cross country teams.

According to the Mondo Men’s NCAA Division I Preseason Cross Country Poll, the Cardinal are the second-best team in the land.

Colorado, which defeated second-place Stanford in the NCAA Championships last fall, is the No. 1 team in the poll. Colorado received 14 of the 15 first-place votes while Stanford had the other.

Luchini, who is using his third year of cross country eligibility, is a returning All-American for the Cardinal.

Luchini is a four-time All-American who finished 12th in last fall’s NCAA cross country championships. He was fifth at 10,000 meters in the NCAA championships in spring track, and also finished fifth in 5,000-meter run at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June.

Finishing kick: Racers have at least two Southern Maine options in addition to the popular Bangor Race for the Cure this weekend.

On Sunday, the Road Runners Club of America Women’s Distance Festival 5K is set for 9 a.m. in Portland, and the Mount Agamenticus Challenge 3-miler will be held in York at 9 a.m.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 1-800-310-8600 or 990-8214.