Residents from Liberty County were among an estimated 3,000 people who came out to run in the inaugural Savannah Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 1 mile walk and 5K run/walk at Telfair Square early Saturday.

The Komen race series is the world’s largest and most successful education and fundraising event for breast cancer.

It’s also the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.

Savannah’s Paula Deen, along with her sons Bobby and Jamie, were on hand to kickoff the race. Runners raced down Barnard Street and circled the picturesque squares of historic Savannah.

Many of the survivors walked hand in hand. Others wore the names of lost loved ones like a proud badge across their chests and backs. Moms and dads ran with their kids and their strollers while others raced with the pets. Each check point offered encouragement to the runners and at mile two, water was being handed out among the shouts, "One more to go."

After the race, participants got food and beverages as they paraded through the information booths learning about the signs, symptoms and treatment options for the disease. In 2008 an estimated 182,460 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed.

There are 125 Komen affiliates worldwide. The state of Georgia has three. In 2007, the Georgia affiliates invested more than $2 million in local programs that provide early detection and treatment of breast cancer and breast health education and outreach. The Coastal Georgia affiliate serves Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long and McIntosh counties.