Markey Nurse Goes the Extra Mile, and 59 More

University of Kentucky oncology nurse Jill Dobias is participating in her second Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk to support breast cancer research. Breast cancer has touched Dobias' life in multiple ways.  She has been a nurse for 26 years and has worked at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center for nine of them.

Having cared for so many patients with the disease, Dobias knows the battle they are up against when friends of hers have been diagnosed.  It was one such friend, Paula, who motivated Dobias to get involved in the walk.

"Last year, when the cancer recurred in Paula's bones, she was having a bad day, and wasn’t her usual self. She asked me ‘When are you going to get off of your big butt and do something about this breast cancer so that our girls don’t have to go through this?' That is what motivated me to participate in the 60-mile, three-day walk in Chicago, Ill. The next day when Paula was back to her normal, positive self, she told me that maybe God made her grouchy, which made me sign up for the walk, which would raise money, which would find a cure. I agreed with her.  God does work in mysterious ways."

For the Susan Komen 3-Day Walk, there are about 2,000 men and women at each of 14 sites in the United States.  This year Dobias will walk in Cleveland, Ohio.  The cost to register is $90 and each walker has to raise $2,300.  The participants camp in pink two-person tents. Dobias trains for 24 weeks before the event, walking four days a week.

"Before my first walk in Chicago, while I was training and seeking donations, my friend Paula told me not to worry about it and that the money would be raised," said Dobias. "She was right. I raised $4,190. People I didn’t even know sent me money. One patient I cared for donated $250 because his sister had breast cancer."

Dobias has fond memories of her first walk in Chicago.

"When we were taken to the opening ceremony, it was like a rock concert. Some 2,300 people participated and there were hundreds of volunteers and tons of family and friends there to see us off. It was very moving.  Cancer survivors came off of the stage, carrying flags with motivational messages. These same flags were passed from walker to walker along the 60 mile route. I was so excited to be a part of this and also very nervous about the 60 miles ahead of me."

Dobias said the route was mapped out so that every three miles there were port-a-potties, and every six miles drinks and snacks.

 "There would be 'cheer stations,' which was so inspirational. Maybe 200 friends and family would be waiting at the designated spot, and there would be a strip of red carpet on the sidewalk we would walk down, with people cheering us on, handing out popsicles, sprinkling us with fairy dust, and clapping and cheering. At the first station a beautiful, bald woman of about 60 gave me a hug, and thanked me for walking. She had just finished her second round of chemo. I am not ashamed to admit that I bawled like a baby."

Dobias said the walk was tiring, but there were so many things to see, including crazy costumes that walkers would wear. In one town, all of the police had dyed their uniform shirts pink. The safety officers all rode Harleys and wore pink helmets. Decorated vans and trucks would ride up and down the road, playing loud music, cheering them on.

"The last day we walked along the Lake Michigan path and saw amazing views of the skyline. We went down Magnificent Mile, past Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain and Museum Campus. The closing ceremony even more moving that the opening ceremony. It was on the front lawn of Soldier Field. As you crossed the finish line, you joined others in cheering others on. Friends and family were directed to a gated area outside the stage. They marched us in 12 across, arms linked and held in the air. Cancer survivors that were walkers came in behind us dressed in pink shirts. The flags were brought in. I was amazed when they announced that together, the 2,300 of us had raised $6.1 million for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. And once again, I bawled like a baby when they had a moment of silence for those that had been lost to breast cancer. We all took one of our shoes off, and held them in the air. My friend, Paula, was among those that were no longer with us. She died June 3, 2008."

"I don’t want to end this on a sad note," Dobias said. "Paula would not have liked that. She felt like life was full of 'the ripple effect;' that one good deed created another, and so on. So hopefully after knowing about my amazing experience, it will motivate you to put on your walking shoes, get off of your 'big butt,' and do something to find a cure for breast cancer."