ST. LOUIS — The Susan G. Komen Foundation fundraising “More Than Pink” Walk takes place Saturday in St. Louis’ Tower Grove Park.
An Army veteran will be bringing in the troops to fight against breast cancer this year. Before her diagnosis, Komen client Barbara Balcom had another title – drill sergeant.
5 On Your Side caught up with Balcom in mid-May during a visit to her doctor, University of Missouri Healthcare oncologist Emily Albright.
Balcom sat in an exam room wearing a pink Army helmet.
“For the past six months, I've been wearing this to all of my chemo sessions,” she said. “So, my mother-in-law made a big poster or banner for the event, and it says, ‘Life's tough - get a helmet.’ I'll be wearing my helmet to the Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk.”
Balcom is a retired U.S. Army veteran.
“I was in the initial invasion in 2003 of Iraq, and then back in 2005 and 2006,” Balcom said. “I was a drill sergeant from 2008 to '11.”
This chapter of Barbara's life unfolded just four months after her military career came to an end.
“You know, I retired with goals,” said Balcom. “I wanted to finally be there for my kids - to be that momma that they deserve, and the wife that my husband deserves, because he's also still in the Army. I wanted to garden and finish my master's degree, but all that's been put on hold.”
For the Komen "More than Pink" Walk, Balcom is calling in reinforcements. Her platoon is made up of 46 people.
“Friends,” she said, in answer to a question about how she knew those people. “In the military, you move around a lot. You meet a lot of people. I got old soldiers. I got friends. I got survivors, current warriors. I have quite a few people coming in. My gunner from Iraq is flying from California, so hopefully, it will be a good showing.”
Komen Development Director Dawna Currigan said it is important to remember the bottom-line reason for the appeal.
“The purpose of our fundraising is to fund our research and our patient care center,” Currigan said, “which is direct services and financial we provide for breast cancer patients.”
Currigan said registering for the Komen walk is easy.
“You go to komen.org/stlouiswalk,” she said. “You could join a team. We have many corporate teams. The St. Louis Cardinals and Siteman Cancer Center have teams you could join. Or, you could form your own team or just register as an individual.”
Balcom is a fast talker.
“Staying positive,” she said. “It's hard, and you're going to have those breakdowns. It has been really rough for me, you know? I already have post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Today, I had serious anxiety waiting for my MRI results.”
She paused.
“But it was a positive outcome,” she said.
The Komen "More Than Pink" Walk takes place in the southeast corner of Tower Grove Park. For more information about breast cancer support, resources or financial assistance, anyone can connect with a culturally responsive navigator at 1-877-go-komen or helpline@komen.org.
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