March reservist leads breast cancer walk at Kirkuk

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez
  • By Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq - According to the American Cancer Society Web site, one in eight women are at risk of developing breast cancer while an estimated 192,000 will be diagnosed by the end of 2009. 

For Master Sgt. Loretta Patino, 506th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, air transportation specialist, those statistics are personal and motivate her to make a difference. 

In 2003, Sergeant Patino began to take part in a sponsored Walk for Breast Cancer in Los Angeles to support breast cancer research and education. Since then, the walk has become more meaningful for the reservist deployed here from March ARB. 

"A very good friend of mine was re-diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and I just felt like I needed to go out and do something more than just being a supportive friend," said Sergeant Patino. "Unfortunately, every year since I've done the walk I've had another friend who has been diagnosed with breast cancer," 

Speaking softly she added, "My friend Janelle, who I originally started walking for, passed away in December of 2007 and the following March my friend Melyssa passed away, both from breast cancer." 

Because of her deployment, this will be the first time the Moreno Valley, Calif. native would not be able to participate in the stateside event. She decided the next best thing to do was organize a charity walk here. 

As a result, the KRAB Warrior Walk took place Aug. 20 with the help of Kirkuk's Top 3 and many volunteers. 

"My goal was to have at least 100 people sign up," Sergeant Patino said. 

Exceeding her expectations, more than 150 Airmen and Soldiers united to walk a dusty three mile path in more than 100-degree temperature raising $3,100 in charitable donations. 

"It's very personal to me and it's the least that I can do to try to give something back and do something in my friends' memory," she said. 

Some participants found the walk to be just as personal as Sergeant Patino. 

"Two people in my family are breast cancer survivors," said Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Peters, 506th Expeditionary Medical Squadron, deployed here from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. "So I always try to do anything I can for this cause because I know that I'm at risk." 

Sergeant Peters said she hopes to see similar events in the future. 

"This not only helps promote a cure, but advocates prevention and ways we can help sufferers of breast cancer," she said.