Thousands of people laced up Sunday for the annual Run for the Cure in Victoria Park.

The event raises funds for breast cancer research through the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Close to $280,000 was raised Sunday.

Run for the Cure is held in communities across the country. More than 100,000 people participate in the run, which raised about $20 million last year.

Local companies and organizations support the breast cancer cause throughout October.

Middlesex-London EMS is one of the groups supporting breast cancer awareness throughout the month.

Breast cancer kills about 5,000 women in Canada each year.