Fort Belvoir Community Hospital supported breast cancer awareness and research by hosting a 5K run/walk Oct. 17 on the main hospital campus.
The event, which came about as the result of a partnership between the USO Warrior and Family Center and the Belvoir Hospital Oncology Department, aimed to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month and increase the post community's knowledge of the disease.
According to Sgt. Lyndsay Casella, Belvoir Hospital Senior Enlisted Liaison and Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, more than 400 servicemembers and civilians participated in the race which began at the Oaks Pavilion at 11:45 a.m., followed a course around the facility, and concluded in the Meadows Pavilion parking lot at 12:30 p.m.
"We registered more than 250 participants before the race and about 150 more signed up today," Casella said. "So we had at least 400 come out to support this today."
Lt. Col. Andreas Lindenberg, Belvoir Hospital chief of oncology; Lt. Col. Brian Zarchin, Fort Belvoir Headquarters Battalion commander; and Col. Charles Callahan, Belvoir Hospital director; opened the event by welcoming participants to the race and thanking runners and walkers for their support.
"I want to thank everyone for taking the time out of their incredibly busy schedules to come out here today; with sequestration and the government shutdown, every minute of the day is more important. And most of all I want to thank all those breast cancer survivors out here today for their courage, faith and strength to be resilient," Zarchin said. "Cancer is an incredibly challenging thing to get over. One out of eight females here will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. Awareness is awesome, and you've got to act on it. My grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer; she treated it immediately and led a healthy lifestyle. Acting on it allowed her to live another 10 years--to enjoy her 25 grandchildren and her 17 great-grandchildren. The impressions she left on us will last forever."
"We are privileged at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital to have a role in the care of literally hundreds of our patients -- active duty, Family members and retirees -- who have been afflicted with cancer, many of whom are out here today," said Callahan. "Those people are very close to us and it is an honor for us to be a part of (their) team as they battle this disease and be part of the hundreds of folks who are now looking at cancer in the rearview mirror."
According to K. J. Stevens, Troops and Family Programs coordinator at the Fort Belvoir USO, the walk/run also served to showcase the hospital's state of the art cancer treatment program.
"Belvoir Hospital has a vast and incredible oncology department, as well as a wealth of information and services to help with early detection of breast cancer," she said. "This is such an important cause because research has shown that military personnel are 20-40 percent more likely to have breast cancer than other women in their age group."
Stevens added that the 5K was one of two events last week intended to help educate the community on breast cancer and the importance of receiving regular screenings and medical check-ups. The theme for both events was "Early Detection Saves Lives."
"On Oct. 18 we hosted a luncheon (at the Fort Belvoir Community Center Ballroom) with information booths, interactive displays, and guest speakers at the Warrior and Family Center to help raise awareness of Breast Cancer and the importance of Early Detection Practices."
For one participant, finishing the 5K represented a very special victory, having recently completed a tough round of chemotherapy and radiation to join the ranks of cancer survivors.
"Chemotherapy and radiation hits you really hard, but I've just been jogging to get myself back into shape. This is my first race in a year," said Michelle Taylor-Spearman.
According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 234,580 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and 40,030 women will die from the disease in 2013.
"This is the first year that we're doing this. We're hoping to make it annual," said Sgt. Matthew Merkle, oncology noncommissioned officer-in-charge at Belvoir hospital. "The point we really want to get across is the importance of early detection. The chances of survival dramatically increase."
For more information regarding breast cancer and Belvoir Hospital's oncology department, call the hospital at (571) 231-3496 / 3497 or visit /www.fbch.capmed.mil/newsroom/20131010_01.aspx.
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