Tampa, Florida -- The 9th annual Miles for Moffitt, a walk and run for cancer research shattered, several records this year.
The national cancer research group based in Tampa raised more than $550,000. Their goal was $500,000. Last year, they raised $337,792.
The event had 7,500 participants in its 8K, 5K, 1-mile, wheel chair race, and children's race. Last year, it had 3,229 participants. This year, it also had 357 teams, compared to 227 teams last year.
Everyone on Saturday morning at the University of South Florida had a reason to run, walk, or roll.
"This year is special because I was diagnosed with sarcoma, which is bone cancer," said now two-time cancer survivor Miriam Zimms.
Zimms has walked Miles for Moffitt the last three years, making this her fourth time. She beat both breast and bone cancer.
Zimms sat in a wheel chair for the interview, but she did not let that restrain her from walking part of the one-mile fun run.
"My surgery scar from my hip surgery to get rid of the cancer is two-feet long," said Zimms as she pointed from her mid-thigh all the way to her upper back. Her physical therapy has helped her walk using a walker for the race.
"I will start at the finish start line walking with my walker, but my loving husband will be right behind me with my wheelchair when I need to take a break," said Zimms.
The crowd watched as she came back from the one-mile run and was less than 300 feet away from the finish line. That is when she told her friend to stop pushing her in her wheel chair and let her get out and walk across the finish line.
"Okay, stop," she shouted.
"This is exhilarating! This is such a huge accomplishment because this was my goal: to start at the start line and finish at the finish line. That is what we do with cancer. We start and we finish."
VIDEO: 2-time cancer survivor Miriam Zimms' Miles for Moffitt inspirational run
One hundred percent of the money raised during the event will go to Moffitt cancer research. Each registration was $35.
To see Moffitt's overall results from the races click on the link below:
