US Naval Hospital hosts 5k to raise breast cancer awareness

Photo By Cpl. Matheus Hernandez | Participants in the 5K run/walk to raise breast cancer awareness pass the finish line as volunteers cheer on Camp Lester Oct. 22.  

CAMP LESTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

10.27.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Heather Johnson 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LESTER, Japan - Pink was the color of choice for joggers at a 5-km run/walk, which started at the Camp Lester Fitness Center Oct. 22.

The run/walk was hosted by the Breast Health Center at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa Health Promotions and was intended to raise awareness for breast cancer.

More than 150 people came together to participate in the run to raise awareness through family time and togetherness, according to Lt. Cmdr. Debra L. Baker, laboratory department head at the hospital.

Baker took part in the run and has participated in or assisted with breast health awareness events at previous duty stations.

“On island, there was great advertisement and support for this fun run,” said Baker. “There were no gimmicks, registration fees, t-shirts, water bottles. How amazing is it that over 150 people did this race out of sheer desire to accentuate awareness and get a nice morning workout?”

Participants and volunteers said they showed their support for many reasons, whether they had family or a friend with the illness.

“My motivation is to show [others] the support we have for people that may need it due to oneself having breast cancer or even those who may know someone who is going through or has had breast cancer,” said Christine B. Barker, a mammography technician at the hospital.

“This is my life’s work,” she said. “I am motivated to see this disease eradicated from this generation and all future generations. Until this happens, I am motivated to tell everyone on this island and everyone else I can possibly reach about this disease and what they must do to find it early enough to spare their life.”

The Breast Health Center staff at the hospital is dedicated and committed to ensuring it cares for its patients in a professional, caring, timely and efficient manner, according to Barker.

“We opened the [Breast Health Center] in May 2010 and are very proud of it since women can come in with a problem and have everything taken care of right there,” said Cmdr. Shelley K. Perkins, director of surgical services at the hospital.

The staff held a breast health center open house and staff appreciation day earlier in the month. The Breast Health Center also targets May as another time to screen heavily, since Mother’s Day falls within the month.

“Our patients love it, and it takes some of the stress out of a potentially very stressful circumstance,” said Perkins.

“We treat our patients as family because as a military community being far from home, we must take care of each other,” said Barker.

The event was another opportunity to bring families together while gaining information about the disease, she said.

“Families are very important,” said Barker. “Families need each other to get through challenges that face us each day. Having events like this that include all members of the family opens the opportunity to forget about our work and spend quality time together.

“This event hopefully raised questions about this disease and allowed those questions to be answered by the remarks given or the educational material that was provided,” she added.

The event showed that the community is committed to sharing knowledge with each other with the hope that the information will have a snowball effect throughout the island and even reach home, said Barker.

“Life is one big race,” said Baker. “We tend to forget the really important things in our lives as we are slaying the day-to-day dragons. We need to stop and remember how valuable every day is.”

• Date Taken: 10.27.2011
• Date Posted: 10.27.2011 02:28
• Story ID: 79076
• Location: CAMP LESTER, OKINAWA, JP