COLUMBIA, MO. -- It was a celebration of survivorship as cancer patients gathered for a special balloon launch.

Columbia’s Missouri Cancer Associates sponsored the First Annual Hope Floats event to honor breast cancer patients and their families.

A small group of cancer survivors and their friends and family gathered at Missouri Cancer Associates to celebrate life with balloons.

Doctors diagnosed Columbia’s Chantelle Fuller with breast cancer at the age of 34.  She had a double mastectomy and has been cancer free for 3 years.

Fuller said, “I really want to knock out breast cancer because I do not want my niece, my kids or the rest of my family to go through what I had to go through and what other people had to go through.”

Breast cancer is the number one cancer diagnosis for women and the number two killer behind lung cancer.  Organizers of the Hope Floats event said their balloons symbolize how breast cancer is not just a killer.  It’s something we can live and deal with.

Dr. Mark Vellek said, “This is a celebration of past patients who’ve had cancer and for all of those patients who, unfortunately, succumb to that.  We are celebrating life and recognizing that breast cancer is involved in our lives, but it doesn’t rule our lives.”

After sharing their stories, cancer survivors released dozens of balloons at their Hope Floats rally.

The balloon launch prepared everyone for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure walk and run this Sunday in Columbia.

The race begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Mizzou Sports Park in Columbia.

More than 4,000 people are expected to attend.

KRCG is proud to be a sponsor and have a team participating in the event.