Faith Stretch’s breakthrough came unexpectedly.

She came to Jackson to watch her son Joshua run in the 2014 Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure. Dressed in T-shirt with a specially designed logo that said, “Run for Mom,” Joshua dedicated the 5K run to Faith, who had survived breast cancer a few years earlier.

“I was overwhelmed when I walked up to the site to see Joshua run,” Faith said. “There were hundreds of people.”

Suddenly the thoughts rushed into her head, Faith said.

“That is when I realized that people like me mattered,” she said. “We were all together for one purpose.”

With a rejuvenated spirit, Faith walked back to her hotel room with a prayer.

“I asked God if I could have (a race) in Natchez,” Faith said.

On Sept. 17, Faith and the Mississippi Steel Magnolia Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure will host its inaugural Natchez River Runs Pink 5K.

Like the breakthrough she had in 2014, Faith hopes for similar breakthroughs for all who come to promote breast health awareness, celebrate survivors and encourage those currently living with cancer.

Faith knows about living with cancer. Four years after her first brush with the disease, a fall during an anniversary celebration on the Gulf Coast led to a second cancer diagnosis.

Faith and her husband Dr. Tommie Stretch thought she had suffered a slipped disk. Tests discovered lesions on Faith’s hip and pelvis.

“I like to say at the time an angel pushed me,” Faith said. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have found out about the cancer when I did.”

Talking about the second diagnosis is hard, but the breakthrough she had at the Susan G. Komen race in Jackson has armed her with courage and confidence.

“Before my breakthrough, I had a problem saying the word cancer,” Faith said. “Saying the word still brings everything to the surface. It causes a lot of sorrow and pain.”

Even still, the experience in Jackson changed her outlook on the disease.

“It is now easier for me to talk about breast cancer,” Faith said. “I didn’t used to wear pink. Now I wear it all the time.”

“I have more positive thoughts about the pink ribbon and what it stands for.”

The race will be at 8 a.m., Sept. 17 on Broadway Street in front of the bandstand on the bluff. Registration will begin at 7 a.m.

Anyone interested in participating can sign up at the website komencentralms.org. Links on the River Runs Pink page provide opportunities to form teams, join an existing team or register individually. There is also a link to make a monetary donation to the event.

“We ask people to come out and be supportive, show love and run,” Faith said.

In addition to the 5K run and walk, other events include a special survivors breakfast and a pink color explosion. Booths will also be set up to provide education about breast health awareness, the importance of early detection and updated information about cancer research.

Mississippi Steel Magnolia Executive Director Catherine Young said 50- to 75-percent of the money raised will stay in the district to provide funds for local education, free mammograms, biopsies and other treatment needs.

“This year 2,330 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 420 people will die,” Young said. “Money raised will help us find a cure, provide quality health care and continue to be advocates for early detection.”

Faith said she knew in 2014 that she not only wanted to help others find the breakthrough she discovered at the Susan G. Komen race, but she wanted to help find a breakthrough that leads to a future cure.

“I want to do my part to help find a cure and help people in my community,” she said.