\u201cIt was a light along the way \u2014 what at times was a very hard way.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s how Mission Hills resident and breast cancer survivor Christine Trimble describes the Susan G. Komen San Diego (Komen SD) foundation. Meet Trimble and support the foundation\u2019s efforts at its annual Race for the Cure, held from 6:30-10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, in Balboa Park.<\/p>\n In September 2014, Trimble was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer, an \u201caggressive advanced\u201d form of the disease. She had just started chemotherapy when a co-worker at Qualcomm, where Trimble is the vice president of public affairs, suggested she come to Komen SD\u2019s Race for the Cure. Trimble didn\u2019t know much about the organization or the event, but agreed to come.<\/p>\n Before the race begins, all survivors are honored on stage in a special ceremony. They are brought up in groups by the number of years they\u2019ve survived. Being just a couple months into her treatment, Trimble was the only one in her group.<\/p>\n \u201cI looked out at this sea of pink and I didn\u2019t feel like a survivor,\u201d Trimble recalled. \u201cI thought, I\u2019m not sure that I can get through this, but next year I\u2019m going to be one of those [survivors] in the other groups.\u201d<\/p>\n After chemotherapy, a mastectomy and radiation, Trimble\u2019s cancer was declared in remission in fall 2015. But she marks that moment at the race as a turning point in her cancer battle.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking at those thousands of faces, it was very emotional. It was so inspirational, and so empowering. I just had this feeling of hope,\u201d Trimble said. \u201cI knew it was giving me the boost I needed.\u201d<\/p>\n Trimble also credits her husband Kent, with whom she just celebrated 22 years; her son, Nicholas; her extended family (including a sister and brother-in-law in the medical field) and some incredible friends for being her support system. They offered both emotional support \u2014 Trimble refers to Kent as \u201cmy cheerleader\u201d \u2014 and practical support.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen people say \u2018if you need something, let me know\u2019 \u2026 well, at the time, you don\u2019t really know what you need,\u201d Trimble said.<\/p>\n But her circle of friends and family recognized and filled her needs. They accompanied Trimble to doctor\u2019s appointments, helping take notes and making sure the right questions were asked (Trimble notes that there is a huge onslaught of information coming at you in those appointments). A group organized a meal schedule online, so every day she had chemotherapy there was a hot meal dropped off for her family.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was so nice \u2014 one less thing I had to worry about,\u201d Trimble said.<\/p>\n Even her dog \u2018Stein (short for Einstein) was a comforting companion. When she felt sick from a treatment, Trimble said, \u201che would be so content to sit next to me.\u201d She admits that \u2018Stein was bought as a family dog, but both Kent and Nicholas acknowledge that animal is completely hers!<\/p>\n A broader picture<\/strong><\/p>\n Helping meet emotional and practical needs in other breast cancer survivor\u2019s lives is something Komen SD strives to do. But the organization doesn\u2019t provide these services themselves: they work as a giant network to get women the resources they need.<\/p>\n Komen SD is an expert at identifying a need and finding a way to fill it \u2014 \u201cbridging barriers to care,\u201d as they say. Every two years, leadership has a \u201cneeds assessment\u201d summit. They determine what they believe the holes in services are, and what San Diego women and families specifically need in the fight against breast cancer. This time around, those barriers that need to be bridged include under-insurance, lack of time and transportation, illiteracy, low finances, diagnostics, lack of support, issues with HMOs and cultural barriers.<\/p>\n Then once a year, Komen SD holds a blind and competitive grant process for local nonprofits that cross those bridges. In 2017-18, Komen SD granted more than $1.2 million to the following organizations: 2-1-1 San Diego, a health navigation program in breast health care; Community Heath Imaging Centers of San Diego\u2019s Mobile Mammography Coach (which Trimble actually used); Mama\u2019s Kitchen, a no-cost meal delivery service for patients\u2019 families; education programs at Vista Community Clinic, San Ysidro Health Center POWER\/PODER, Family Health Centers of San Diego, and San Diego Black Nurses Inc.\u2019s \u201cKeeping Abreast of Our Needs.\u201d<\/p>\n Komen SD also gave grants to Health Quality Partners, Jewish Family Service of San Diego, and La Maestra Family Clinic, which all provide breast cancer services to low-income, uninsured and underinsured patients.<\/p>\n A significant portion of those grant funds comes from the Race for the Cure and its counterparts Row for the Cure, Dine Out for the Cure, Pups for the Cause, and Sleep In for the Cure.<\/p>\n Of every dollar raised through the race, 25 cents go into the national Susan G. Komen Foundation pool to support research for new drugs and treatment and ultimately, a cure. The other 75 cents stay in house and funds the Komen SD mission. None of the race profits go to support the administrative or marketing side \u2013 all<\/em> of that is covered by corporate sponsors. Komen SD is still seeking runners, supporters and financial donors for the event.<\/p>\n The last word<\/strong><\/p>\n And for those still fighting their cancer battle, Trimble offers these words of hope and advice:<\/p>\n For more information or to register for the race, visit komensandiego.org<\/a>, call 858-573-2760 or follow Komen San Diego on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. If you come in person, check out Trimble\u2019s \u201cPretty in Pink\u201d team (just look for the \u201880s hair and Molly Ringwald references).<\/p>\n![\"\u2018Feeling](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Christine-Trimble1.jpg\")
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\u201cYou\u2019re going to have bad days \u2014 it\u2019s OK to go rest,\u201d she said. \u201cFocus on yourself and what your body needs.\u201d<\/p>\n