Twitch Fitness was one of the teams from Madison that participated in the 2013 Liz Hurley Ribbon Run. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON, HUNTSVILLE – Madison Hospital employees, along with several other Madison-based teams, will participate in Huntsville Hospital Foundation’s 11th annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run on Oct. 18.

“Last year, we had 6,500 participants — a record for the event. This year, the limit is 7,000 participants,” April Windham said. Windham works as director of marketing for Huntsville Hospital Foundation. In the past decade, the run has raised $1.4 million.

Surgical technician Carrie Bennich is coordinating Madison Hospital’s team in the run.

WAFF 48 anchor Liz Hurley is a breast cancer survivor and award-winning broadcast journalist. This run benefits the Liz Hurley Breast Cancer Fund at Huntsville Hospital Foundation, which then enhances equipment for both Huntsville Hospital and Madison Hospital.

On Oct. 17, packet pick-up is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. From 5 to 7:30 p.m., more than 1,200 pink luminarias will be lighted to honor survivors and memorialize individuals who died from breast cancer.

On Oct. 18, the 5K race starts at 8 a.m. at the corner of Adams Street and Lowe Avenue in Huntsville; the finish line is at Huntsville Middle School on Adams Street. The Survivors’ Walk will be held at 10 a.m. at Huntsville middle’s track.

This year’s proceeds will help in purchasing digital tomosynthesis for Huntsville Hospital’s Breast Center. “This technology creates a three-dimensional picture of the breast using X-rays,” Windham said. Early results with digital tomosynthesis can detect cancer in dense breast tissue.

“Thanks to the Ribbon Run, women in North Alabama have access to the industry’s most advanced detection equipment for breast cancer,” Windham said.

Established in 1978, Huntsville Hospital Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that serves as the fundraising arm of Huntsville Hospital. The foundation accepts individual and corporate gifts on the hospital’s behalf and works to fund both present and future equipment and program needs.

For more information, call 256-265-8077 or visit huntsvillehospitalfoundation.org.