About 1,500 people hit the pavement early Sunday morning for the 7th annual half marathon in support of Cops for Cancer.

The event is hosted by the Winnipeg Police Service and Winnipeg Iron Cops with alll funds raised going to the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society. Organizers say they are expecting more than $100,000 to be donated for cancer research.

"This has been a great race," said Jodi Hargreaves, who helped organize the event. "It doesn't matter if it rains, pours, or is winter because everyone will come out anyways."

Hargreaves recognized the dedication of the event volunteers who started at 5 a.m. and she said did not complain about the weather.

Daniel Reichert says he was not surprised to see snow on the ground when he got up in the morning ready to run the half marathon.

"Welcome to Manitoba," said Reichert. "On Portage Avenue it was a little chilly at times and at first I was gasping in cold air, but I got used to it."

Reichert, who ran with his mother, says he was warm when he crossed the finish line.

Organizers say each member of the race committee has been touched by cancer in some way.