![[Left to Right] Multimedia journalist Alex Gibbs, KWTX, U.S. Army Soldier Sgt. 1st Class Jewel Lott, 120th Infantry Brigade, Division West, and Multimedia Journalist Paige Ellenberger, 25 News ABC, share a candid moment during a second annual...](https://api.army.mil/e2/c/images/2021/03/12/4294960c/original.jpg)
(U.S. Army Reserve Photo by Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL
Staff Sgt. Erick Yates) VIEW ORIGINAL
KILLEEN, Texas – Close to 20 participants consisting of family, friends, and colleagues, gathered for a chilly, yet early sunny weekend start, to conduct a community walk hosted by a U.S. Army Soldier assigned to Fort Hood, and is a recent colon cancer survivor, at Lions Club Park, March 6.
Sgt. 1st Class Jewel Lott (promotable), currently assigned to the 120th Infantry Brigade, Division West, was met with warm cheers and smiles last Saturday, as participants lined up to get signed in for a second annual colon cancer walk organized to locally promote colon cancer awareness month, which is nationally recognized in March.
“Although we had a cold start this morning, I really had a good time supporting my mom,” said Lott’s teenage daughter Journey, who also assisted with organizing the walk.
“Having more people show up for the walk this year felt good and was a nice surprise to see,” she expressed.
“From the beginning, when she mentioned this event, we wanted to come out and support her,” said Master Sgt. Rebecca Ferris, assigned to the Operations Team, 120th Infantry Brigade.
“It’s absolutely important to show support for your military family,” said Capt. Alex Nowak, who works with Ferris.
“The Brigade is one team, one fight,” he added.
Lott, who has close to 21 years of service in the Army, completed chemotherapy treatment in December 2019. She realized that as one chapter in the road to recovery ended, a new chapter about increasing awareness was ready to begin.
“With the initial thoughts of concern regarding my career upon being diagnosed, I did find support through my family, military family, and friends,” Lott said.
“The prayers and encouragement are what helped me to stay strong enough and get through each day,” she shared.
Lott acknowledges that during her time of treatment, from hospital visits to work flexibility, she felt fully supported by her command.
During her treatment journey, Lott began a Facebook page called the Transformation Project to chronicle her experiences from the beginning of her diagnosis to the recovery process. From this forum, Lott discovered there was still a stronger need for colon cancer awareness.
“When completing chemo, I began thinking of ways to assist with bringing colon cancer awareness to the community,” she explained.
In her research, Lott understood there was an opportunity within her local community to organize a walk for colon cancer awareness month. By organizing a community walk, she realized it brings great potential to easily reach out to many other people facing the health challenges from colon cancer and creating a forum that provides important information about the disease.
Still early in its development, Lott’s goal is to have the Transformation Project serve as a resource tool for both military and civilians, so that anyone within the local community can receive education and support when faced with this health challenge.
Even with next step opportunities in front of her to evolve the Transformation Project into a nonprofit organization, Lott grew inspired after completing her second annual colon cancer walk.
“I am inspired,” she said with a big smile.
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