March 28, 2024

Running breast cancer free

Skiff Medical Center holds 5K for breast cancer group

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Chilly temperatures were not enough to cool the spirits of runners and breast cancer fighters Saturday morning.

The Jingle for a Cure 5K brought in more than 70 runners through the streets of Newton’s north side. The 5K was oranized through a collaboration between Skiff Medical Center and the Pink Ribbon Support Group. This is the support group’s second year co-planning the event.

Robyn Friedman, event organizer and physical therapist at Skiff Medical Center, said the money raised goes back to the Skiff Cancer Clinic to assist in breast cancer patients’ care and comfort.

“Our funds will go back to extra things that they need there that are not provided by insurance,” Friedman said. “It’s to make anyone’s experience there more comfortable.”

Among the items provided to patients include a chemo chair, ice machine, an IV warmer and a television. Although the group didn’t have an exact dollar figure in mind when fundraising this year, they expect to make more from the event than last year. About 50 people chose to huff it in the 5K run, and the rest participated in the one-mile run/walk inside or outside.

The non-timed fun run began in Skiff Medical Center’s parking lot. They ran on North Sixth Avenue to turn north on 12th Street and through a bike trail west through Woodland Park and Sunset Park and returned to Skiff on First Street. The one-mile, outdoor run goes around Emerson Huff Elementary School’s track, while the indoor one-mile run/walk is five laps inside the building.

Each runner walked away from the event with a new shirt, bells, chapstick and a commemorative pen. The event was sponsored by Dr. Tom Buroker and Dr. Dan Buroker and Iowa Ortho.

Nicole Woods, a registered nurse at Skiff Medical Center’s Ortho Office, was one of the runners in the 5K. Woods said it was her first time in a running event and was proud to do it for the hospital.

“I think it’s very important to support others,” Woods said. “I sometimes work closely with the cancer clinic. I know some of these people who are affected by this.”

One of the runners, as well as a member of the Pink Ribbon Support Group, is Newton resident Sally Urias. As of this upcoming Christmas Eve, Urias will be cancer-free for three years.

After learning she has stage 2B breast cancer, Urias went through five months of chemotherapy and 33 radiation treatments.

“That was a (heck) of a year,” Urias said. “When you get chemo called the ‘red devil,’ and the nurse has to come in in ahazmat suit, you know you have something.

“This group has really made a difference,” Urias added.

After sitting out for the first event last year, Urias felt up to par to do the one-mile walk with her grandson this year. Saturday, it helps that it was slightly warmer with less wind.

“It’s actually warmer than it was last year. There’s no wind out there today. Last year, it was awful with the wind,” Friedman said. “This is warm compared to last year at this time.”

Contact Orrin Shawl at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or oshawl@newtondailynews.com