Malmstrom runs for breast cancer awareness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Brosam
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and members of Team Malmstrom participated in an annual awareness run and walk Oct. 5.

The event is held each year to raise awareness for breast cancer and encourage men and women of all ages to be proactive with preventative health measures.

The race started at the Grizzly Bend where participants were able to run and walk the 1.2 mile course around the base.

Senior Airman Kasie Shoemaker, 341st Medical Group flight operational medical technician, participated in the race and said raising awareness is very important in helping others understand how serious cancer is.

“Breast cancer has a big significance to me,” Shoemaker said. “I feel even if someone doesn't have a close relative that has cancer, everyone should be willing to raise awareness to help the cause and find a cure.”

Shoemaker is familiar with cancer because a family friend recently finished treatment and is awaiting results to see if the treatment was successful.

After the run, participants were able to enjoy free food and refreshments while they listened to guest speaker Jodi Dake share her personal experience with breast cancer.

Dake was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31. She underwent treatment and has been cancer-free for seven years.

“May 19 is now my warrior day,” Dake said. “I think it’s very important to celebrate survivorship in cancer.

“That’s my day to reflect,” she continued. “That is my life-or-death day and that’s how close I was to the other side. For some reason, I was meant to be here on this earth and I’m going to take that and do with it what I will.”

Dake added just because it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, doesn’t mean it is solely about breast cancer.

“Money raised in October is not used just to cure breast cancer,” Dake said. “It’s to cure cancer. Once we find the cure to breast cancer, we find a cure to all cancers.”

Kirk Clark, 341st MDG health promotions coordinator, said being a cancer survivor, the awareness runs have always been more than just a run to him.

“What I tell people who have never had cancer is you will have children, get married, even get a job and those are all life changers,” Clark said. “There are life changers that exist, but there is no life change greater than a physician looking you in the eyes and telling you that you have cancer. It’s such an astounding life changer.”

Clark echoed Dake’s point that it is not just about breast cancer, but more about how people could take care of themselves to help prevent cancer.

“It’s about prevention,” Clark said. “What are we doing as a population to take care of ourselves and make us better? My goal is to raise overall awareness of cancer and to encourage people to get their exams done.”

For questions or more information on scheduling exams, personnel can contact the appointment line at 731-4633.