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Hundreds Run In Their Underwear For Cancer Awareness

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Hundreds of scantily-clad people took part in a 5K run outside Soldier Field last night to raise money for "Bright Pink," which empowers young women to educate themselves about ovarian and breast cancer.

WBBM Newsradio 780's Mike Krauser was sent kicking and screaming to cover the first-ever Chicago Undie Dash, which stepped off Thursday outside Soldier Field.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Mike Krauser reports

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"I see a whole lot of people in their underwear – super heroes," said co-organizer Elizabeth Cataudella. "We have a professional wrestler here."

Cataudella says it wasn't an easy sell with the city.

"We did have a hard time, you know, people running in their underwear," she said.

The wrestler in question is Lisa Marie Varon.

"I had my scare actually six months ago, finding a little cyst in my right breast and it scared me so much and thank goodness I caught it just in time," she said.

The race was also open to men, one of whom said he decided to come out because he would "get to run around in my underwear." He also conceded that seeing a lot of women running around in their underwear was also a welcome perk.

One woman said she had never run in her underwear before.

"It actually feels very liberating right now," she said.

Participants weren't required to strip to their underwear for the race. Costumes and regular running clothes were also accepted.

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