Several hundred metro south area teachers and students will be among the more than 40,000 people participating in Race for the Cure today.

For many area participants, the Susan G. Komen Foundation race to find a cure for breast cancer holds a special meaning.

“It’s kind of electrifying for me (to participate),” said Ruth Ann Everetts, a breast cancer survivor and teacher at Center Grove High School.

“I have a daughter, I want a cure,” Everetts said. “I’ll walk and do whatever I can to raise that money to find a cure.”

Everetts is part of Grove for the Cure, the Center Grove team that will have nearly 60 participants walking today.

Southport High School also has a team participating.

“We got involved when one of our teachers lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 48,” said Terrie Mahin.

“We just feel really strongly about it.”

Last year, the school rallied around the mother of a baseball team member and walked in the event.

This year, 126 people from the school are walking, Mahin said.

“We just hope that one of these days we won’t have to have a race,” she said. “But until then, we have to keep raising money.”

Educators, students and family members from around the metro south area will converge on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis today for the 5K race.

The competitive 5K run begins at 9 a.m., with the regular 5K walk/run starting shortly thereafter. The 1-mile Family Walk kicks off at 9:45 a.m.

This is the 18th year for the Komen Race for the Cure in Indianapolis.