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PINK MOMENTS
The capital city is home to the one of the largest Race for the Cure® events in the country, drawing thousands of walkers and runners to the Downtown 5K in an average, nonpandemic year. In 2020 and 2021, Race for the Cure shifted to a virtual format, with an impressive 2,854 participants registered in 2021. In addition to raising awareness about researching, treating and curing breast cancer, Race for the Cure also raises funds: The race’s net proceeds—more than $600,000 in 2021 alone— support Komen’s mission to save lives and end breast cancer through breakthrough research and ensuring all people receive the care they need. The 2022 Race for the Cure, the 30th anniversary of the event, will be held on May 14 and will feature a hybrid model, with the traditional in-person event in Downtown Columbus accompanied by a virtual experience to accommodate all comfort levels. Visit komencolumbus.org for more information and to register for this year’s event, and read on to meet three individuals who are involved with the Columbus race and learn why they dedicate their time, talent and treasure.
PHOTO: BURAZIN/GETTY IMAGES
STORIES AS TOLD TO EMMA FRANKART HENTERLY
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
MAY 2022 COLUMBUS MONTHLY
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HANSA BHATT BIO: Hansa is a retired OPERS employee; she and her husband of 42 years, Mahesh (pictured with her), have two adult daughters, both married, and two grandkids.
WHY THEY RACE: We’ve always raised money for one organization or another; I have diabetes, so we’ve done diabetes walks, and we used to be very active with the March of Dimes. We did those for 13 or 14 years. Once I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I said, “OK, now we’re going to raise money for breast cancer.” My husband gets very involved; as soon as Komen says it’s time to start fundraising, he starts sending out emails and WhatsApp messages to everyone. Most of the recipients respond as soon as they get his message and immediately sponsor me. I think everyone who was sponsoring me that first year is still doing it, and we’ve gained many new sponsors in the last 16 years. Many of them respond because they have someone in their family who has had cancer, or they themselves have had cancer, so they feel the need to support the cause. My team is everything. Race for the Cure gives you so much inspiration. At the same time, you feel emotional when you see people carrying signs honoring the loved ones who have passed away; it gives you a real picture of what this is all about. Everyone walks together, but at the finish line, survivors go to a separate line. People talk about how many years they’ve been a survivor; in the early years, when I was only one or two years into remission, I would hear people say 15 years, 20 years, and it gave me so much hope. Because sometimes you feel like you have cancer and your life is limited, you’re going to die at any time. But when you hear these survivors, it gives you courage. Now, at 16 years, I get to be the person who’s giving hope to others.
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PHOTO: TIM JOHNSON
VITALS: Hansa is a 16-year breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ in 2006; she had a lumpectomy that same month, followed by radiation treatments.
We want to empower everyone who’s touched by cancer to keep dreaming about the things that inspire them: the vacations, the goals, the milestones and the celebrations.
After all, you had a life before cancer. And now is definitely not the time to stop living it. Keep making a scene. Keep making art. Keep making impulsive decisions. Keep making jokes. Keep making love. Keep making memories. Keep making peace. Keep making family recipes. Keep making the world better. Keep making your parents proud. You’ve got this. And we’ve got you. KEEP MAKING PLANS.
OhioHealth.com/KeepMakingPlans © OhioHealth Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. FY22-764159. 05/22.
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KIM SHOEMAKER BIO: CEO of Acloché, a workforce solutions organization, and a Komen Columbus executive leadership committee member; she and her husband of 30 years have four children and two grandchildren.
WHY SHE RACES: We’re a womenowned, women-run organization, and breast cancer is a large issue that affects a lot of women—and men, too—that I think we need to wrap our arms around and be supportive of. So many of us have experienced, or have somebody in their life who has been impacted by, some form of cancer. I feel like breast cancer has come at me in a lot of different areas, family members and colleagues, and I just want to do what I can to help Komen Columbus spread the word. Acloché is in its 12th year with its own Race for the Cure team, Acloché for the Cure. We get as many participants and donors as we can, and go down to the race and celebrate every year. Race for the Cure builds a lot of comradery on our team—we try to get as many of our internal team members as possible, and we pay for our team members and one guest each to come down and join the team with us—but once you get down there and you’re bathed with the energy of 20,000 other people, it’s exhilarating. It’s just so inspiring—everybody coming together to support one cause. Komen Columbus is really there for cancer patients in their time of need. I know with my employee, she couldn’t work for a while after her diagnosis, and I connected her with Komen. The amount of support and education and connection and resources they were able to provide her, it was really good for her. It really helped her in her journey. The folks at Komen are very agile and adaptable to what each person wants and needs, and are really good at guiding them through their journey.
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PHOTO: ROB HARDIN
VITALS: Long-term supporter of Komen Columbus; her aunt and grandmother both died of breast cancer, and another aunt is a survivor; the mother of her two oldest children died of breast cancer when they were teens, and breast cancer has also claimed the life of an employee at Acloché.
The future for breast cancer treatment is very promising. Targeted therapies allow us to limit toxicity and improve efficacy. Analyzing the genetics of each patient’s tumor allows us to truly personalize each plan of care.” Jeanna L. Knoble, MD • Zangmeister Cancer Center
Zangmeister Cancer Center
The Choice for Compassionate, Comprehensive, Cutting-Edge Care The rapid release of new therapies for breast cancer means more patients living longer with better quality of life. Oral drugs are largely replacing IV chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Targeted therapies and immunotherapy limit the toxicity of treatment for many patients. At Zangmeister Cancer Center, we collaborate with our colleagues in radiation therapy, breast surgery, genetics, pathology, clinical research and plastic surgery to ensure each patient has a comprehensive, multidisciplinary plan of care. Support from our pharmacists, social workers, nurse navigators, dietitians and financial counselors minimize the impact of cancer on daily life. We deliver the most advanced and innovative treatments focused on each patient for the best possible experience — because each patient’s cancer journey is unique.
ZangCenter.com
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