From the Editor of the Clipper: “Breast cancer: trying to find a cure in an amusing way”

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (November 4, 2018) — With so many people having so much fun, it’s hard to believe the cause is so deadly serious.

For many of the folks putting on such recent events as the regional Bra-Ha-Ha, the Fit for a Cure at MacArthur Center, and the Pull for the Pink at Big Woody’s in Greenbrier, the scourge of breast cancer h

its close to home.

That’s certainly true of Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Branda Schroeder, 43, who is in her fourth year as coordinator of the pink firetruck pull featured on today’s cover.

“We’ve lost some friends and family members in the past few months,” she said. “It just seems rampant.”

Schroeder’s grandmother, Betty, died at age 29. Schroeder’s mother, MaryAnn, was 7 when she lost her mother, so the memories are few. But it doesn’t make the loss – and the cause – any less fervent.

Under her leadership, the Pull for the Pink has grown exponentially from four eight-person teams in the first year to 34 teams this year, including 12 all-female teams. With turnout of 250-300, the event may be outgrowing its commercial locations.

“It’s growing so much because, unfortunately, it’s affecting so many people,” said Schroeder, who is exploring moving it to Chesapeake City Park.

According to cancer.net, more women are diagnosed with breast cancer than any other cancer, excluding skin cancer. That’s 266,120 in the U.S. alone this year, and some 41,000 will die. About 1 percent of those are men.

The good news: the 5-year survival rate is 90 percent.

My mother-in-law, Norma, was among those lucky ones. Having lost her husband to melanoma in 1973, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1977. After surgery and treatment, she survived into her 80s.

She was a role model in many ways, not the least of which was helping other women, through social services, cope with a serious disease whose fight, at least, continues to have a sense of humor.

Mark Kozak, 757-446-2224,  mark.kozak@pilotonline.com