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Thousands Of Determined Women Take On Tufts Health Plan 10K

BOSTON (CBS) - Thousands of determined women just took on the 35th Annual Tufts Health Plan 10K. The race that raises money for diabetes research is a Columbus Day tradition in Boston and this year it was the official 2011 USA National 10K championship race.

Among the runners were the Labonte sisters who were inspired by the race's goals. Stacey has Type 1 diabetes; Angela has seen its effects first hand.

But there was something else, besides raising money for the American Diabetes Foundation, which Stacey says brought them here together: "To be a role model for the younger girls who are diabetic and just get out there and be healthy."

WBZ-TV's Diana Perez reports

Stacey has been living with diabetes for 20 years after being diagnosed at just 13.

"It's a struggle everyday," she says. "It's always in the back of my mind. I work nights so it's even harder to keep my blood sugar under control."

Angela says, "It's something she has no control of it's not whether she's overweight or not it's all about her insulin not functioning the way it should."

But the Labonte sisters aren't the only ones, among this year's close to 7,600 runners who are hoping to inspire.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports

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Fourteen runners have been here all 35 years. Paula Metivier ran her first Tufts 10K right after giving birth to her first child, now all of her kids are runners.

"It just psyches me," says Paula. "It psyches me up and then my family the same thing, running just helps us."

Making Paula the inspiration behind role models like the Labonte sisters.

"If they can do it, I can go for it," says Stacey.

The winner of the 10K made history. Jane Cherobon also won Boston Athletic Association's Half Marathon Sunday. It is the first time someone has won the two events in back to back days.

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