Ready, set, go! The 5k run/walk began at 9:30 a.m. Participants took off together across Portland. “It is important for people to attend these events because there are a lot of hardships in life and cancer can be a huge cause,” Alden Woodrum, junior, said, “And you should do whatever you can to help people through these hardships and minimize their effects.” Students, doctors, friends, family, cancer patients and more are trying to raise awareness by attending PurpleStride.