Parker: Healing Stream moved by compassionate members
While many people believe big budgets and connections make for success, a local breast cancer fighting organization disrupts those theories.
“Our Healing Stream Breast Cancer Awareness organization has about 12 women as members. What we may lack in numbers is taken care of by a dozen compassionate women who work hard to make this walk happen for ten straight years,” Audrey Walker, a breast cancer survivor noted.
Walker, the Survivor/Program Director of Healing Stream, an outreach started in March 2006 by True Servant Ministries Bishop Earl Jenkins who wanted to “give hope to those who have been diagnosed or are living with breast cancer as well as other types of sickness or disease, including prostate cancer,” according to Jenkins, voiced many interesting and insightful thoughts Saturday during the Healing Stream Breast Cancer Awareness 5K Walk/Run event at Cadwalader Park.
“One of our main objectives is to assure that women dealing with breast cancer are not left to deal with this issue alone. In fact, a suggestion here is that any person dealing with breast cancer should build a support system. I had a great circle of support during and after my breast cancer event,” Walker said.
“My circle of friends and supporters protected me and never left me alone. They were supporters who walked with me through my breast cancer situation. I don’t know what I would have done without those caring, loving people.”
Several hundred people attended the Healing Stream 10th Annual Healing Stream event, including Mayor Reed Gusciora who offered support for individuals and families dealing with the disease of breast cancer. Gusciora praised those facing a disease that will claim the lives of approximately 40,000 women in the U.S. in 2018.
About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, according to Centers for Disease Control. An estimated 267,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S. this year.
Bishop Jenkins praised Walker and Anita Hardwick, both members of his church. “And both breast cancer survivors who decided not to let pain and suffering keep them from this mission. Having breast cancer and surviving, became their testimony and Walker’s ministry,” Jenkins noted.
“Frequently, people use pain as an excuse for inaction. Audrey accepted her pain as a calling to reach out to others and help them because she had an understanding, first-hand knowledge about breast cancer. Audrey and Anita turned their suffering into something positive, a vehicle to help and support others.
Walker said her breast cancer diagnosis energized her life as faith overshadowed any potential fear. “I think fear becomes a major factor for people diagnosed with breast cancer. Healing Stream members stand ready to walk women through that initial shock and replacing fear with faith,” Walker explained.
“We help in many ways, including arranging for breast cancer patients to have their houses cleaned. And we take women out for a day of beauty that may include getting a manicure, pedicure or their hair done. And if they have lost their hair due to chemotherapy treatments, we sometimes take escort them to buy a wig. And, we’re always available to make a visit to talk or just listen.”
Walker did not avoid an important issue that involves some breast cancer diagnosed women who deal with desertion.
“Some men and significant others leave during this very difficult time. Many men leave their wives or girlfriends during a breast cancer situation,” Walker noted.
“I would say that if they are going to leave then wait until these women get better. Please, make every attempt to support these women who face a difficult road. They should not have to deal with this issue alone. The Healing Stream ministry will make sure that never happens.”