Page 1B • October 4, 2012 • www.theleadernews.com

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THE LEADER.Breast Cancer Awareness

So much pink, so much positivity about a deadly disease. Is the an-nual O ctober Breast C ancer Aware-

ness m onth in danger of becom ing an overworn pitch, a cliche?

We at The Leader hope not. Because beneath the ribbons and the com m er-cialization, there dwells a deep hum an connection to this sadly common affl ic-tion that transcends trivialization. Who am ong us doesn’t have a loved one, a friend, a co-worker or teacher who has

faced the diagnosis of breast cancer?W ith this section, we’re not trying to

break any new ground. We are providing

basic information about susceptibility, prevention, sym ptom s, screening and treatment and a nice listing of business-es and medical sources who are observ-ing this m onth with special program s in our neighborhoods – but there are doctors, researchers, organizations and the Internet to help you with a detailed quest for knowledge.

W hat we are offering are profoundly hum an stories about your neighbors – from all walks of life – who are living

with or have (hopefully) conquered this frightening disease.

From Ellen C ohen, whose battle as a young m other m ore than 40 years ago was fought in the shadows without m odern resources, to your neighbors today who fi nd m edical advances and emotional support readily available, we believe you’ll fi nd their journeys com -pelling and inspirational.

The Leader is donating 10 percent of its advertising revenue from this special

section to The Rose, one of a number of admirable local organizations providing services to women, both those covered by insurance and those who aren’t.

We share The Rose’s overriding mes-sage, as voiced by co-founder and medi-cal director D r. D ixie M ellilo: “Women should not be afraid of fi nding breast cancer, but they should be very afraid of fi nding it too late.”

Charlotte Aguilar, Editorcharlotte@theleadernews.com

Every life is touched in efforts to beat this terrible diseaseFROM THE EDITOR

The H ouston Affi liate of Susan G . Komen for the C ure will kick-off National Breast C ancer Aware-ness M onth by hosting the largest footrace in the city, the 22nd An-nual Komen Houston Race for the C ure®, O ct. 6 downtown.

Last year’s event welcom ed over 33,000 participants, includ-ing more than 2,400 breast cancer survivors, and raised more than $4 m illion for breast cancer re-search education, screening and treatm ent program s.

This year’s Race, sponsored lo-cally by M arathon O il C orpora-tion, hopes to raise more than $4 m illion to be used right here in Southeast Texas for research, edu-cation, screening and treatment.

The Komen H ouston Race for the C ure is a certifi ed U SATF 5K course with running and walking events that include a 5K tim ed competitive run; a 5K non-com-petitive run; a 5K walk and a family walk / Kids one-K – about a half-mile sponsored by National O ilwell Varco. Participants who are not able to attend the m ain Race can choose to register for Sleep in for the C ure to show their support without having to wake up early on Race day.

A Survivor C elebration, spon-sored by Baker Hughes Incorpo-rated, will be held after the Race for all participants and their families. In addition, breast can-cer survivors, top fundraisers and Race sponsors can enjoy an invi-tation only post-Race breakfast at the Pink Ribbon C afe sponsored by C afe Express.

O ther Race events include the Kids for the C ure C orral, a post-race for children participating in the Race, an area with bounce houses, face painting and other fun fam ily entertainm ent and a team area, sponsored by Randalls Food M arkets, that gives teams a place to congregate and take team pictures on Race day.

A fun kick-off to Race day will be the 11th annual “Pink in the C ity” Pasta Party where everyone throughout the H ouston area is invited to carb-up and get ready for the big day.

Race participants will gather and indulge in a carb-loading pasta dinner and bid on unique silent auction packages on Thurs-day, O ct. 4 at 6 p.m . at the Royal Sonesta H otel.

Entry fees are $35 for adults, $20 for children (17 and under),

$30 for survivors and $40 for competitive runners. Registration for Sleep in for the C ure is $50 and includes a Race T-shirt, a snooze bib and an extra “Sleep In” treat.

About the Houston Affi liateThe affi liate was established

in 1990 to provide breast cancer education, screening and treat-m ent projects for the m edically under-served and uninsured in Southeast Texas. In the affi liate’s

22-year history, it has granted more than $9 million for research nationally and over $28 m illion for community grants to qualifi ed 501(c)(3) organizations in seven H ouston-area counties. It boasts m ore than 1,500 volunteers.

Ready, set, Race for the CureKomen race already has 33,000 participants ready to run this year

More than 33,000 runners and walkers from tots to seniors, including more than 2,400 breast cancer survivors, par-ticipated in various segments of the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure® through downtown Houston last year. Organiz-ers are expecting more than 35,000 participants Saturday.

ABOUT RACE FOR THE CUREWHAT: 22nd Annual Komen Houston Race for the Cure®, presented by Marathon Oil WHO: More than 35,000 Race participants, including 2,400 breast cancer survivorsWHERE: Downtown HoustonWHEN: Oct. 6, 20127:45 a.m. - Race Opening Ceremonies8 a.m. - Family Walk and Kids one-K9:15 a.m. - Runners Award Ceremony10 a.m. - Survivor Celebration, sponsored by Baker Hughes Corporation

My name is Barbara D ickens. I am a 24-year Breast C ancer Sur-vivor. I’m here to tell you cancer was one of best gifts I have ever gotten.

Being diagnosed in 1988 was the changing point in my life. I was com pletely devastated. It was the last thing I thought I would hear. There was no fam -ily history of cancer. W hy m e? I didn’t drink or smoke. Why me? I went through all the stages from hating G od to “I’m going to die and I’m way too young to die.” This lasted for about a week.

I realized I had three power-ful cancer fi ghters already at my disposal and I began to realize I had all along what it would take to beat this disease – the things “cancer C AN N O T take away.”

1. I had G od. G od carried m e every step of the way, especially when I couldn’t walk.

2. I had my fam ily. They were always there to love m e, to sup-port me when I felt weak, and to wipe away the tears when they cam e.

3. I had m artial arts and my students who gave m e strength and energy.

I won the battle. I got a clean bill of health. It was over, and I could go on with life. I passed the big fi ve-year mark that says you won’t get it again.

Wrong. C ancer has a mind of its own; I was diagnosed again in 1994, in the same breast. I know that’s supposed to be rare, but “Lucky M e.” After six rounds of chemo and six weeks of radiation, being tired all the time, horrible mouth sores, losing my hair and the biggest pain of all – gaining 50 pounds! – I was back at life. I won again! (D id you know obe-

sity two-fold increases the death rate? Yet I found out that 96 per-cent of chem o patients gained from 5 to 50 lbs! W hy is it that all the people I knew who went through chem o lost weight?)

I won the battle again!W hat does all this m ean?1. It means to me cancer was a

gift –the best gift I ever got.2. I am a far better person

now. 3. I want to spend my life edu-

cating people about cancer and its prevention.

4. I want to fundraise for re-search. I want an end to this aw-ful disease

5. I want to be there for the person that just heard the words “you have cancer.”

6. I want for no one to have to through what I did.

7. I want to help people through Reach to Recovery and Road to Recovery.

I have had a slogan in m artial arts that I have always lived by and it becam e my m antra for cancer also: seven times to battle, eight tim es up.

Dickens is a 7th Dan Black Belt Universal Way and owns the White Horse Academy of Martial Arts in the Heights, www.whama.com.

Martial arts expert beats cancer not once, but twice

by Barbara DickensFor The Leader

Dickens has shown her strength as a 7th Dan Black Belt and as a two-time cancer survivor of 24 years. (Submitted photos)