Laureen Brock was still coping with the aftermath of divorce, being a new single mom, and working a day job while attending night classes when she heard the “C” word.
Diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer, she had a bilateral mastectomy over winter break while remaining enrolled full-time in her college coursework. Then she amazed her friends by completing nursing classes while finishing her regimen of chemotherapy.
Two years later, agonizing headaches led to the discovery that cells had metastasized to Stage 4 cancer in her brain. Following surgery to remove the tumor, she was told she would never work again.
This month, Brock returned to nursing with an area home health/hospice company.
Brock said she’s made “On With Life,” the motto of her breast cancer support group, her own battle cry.
“I went through cancer without a spouse, but had wonderful friends who were always there for me. One went to every chemo with me,” Brock said.
On Sunday, Brock will join more than 7,000 other friends of breast cancer patients, who will be running or walking in the 11th Komen Chattanooga Race for the Cure. The race steps off from McKenzie Arena at 2 p.m.
“We are expecting a record crowd this year,” said Sarah Bowen, president of Chattanooga’s Komen affiliate. “We have 7,600 in 2009 and we are hoping for 9,000 Sunday.”
If You GoWhat: Komen Chattanooga Race for the CureWhen: Sunday; 1 p.m. salute to breast cancer survivors, 2 p.m. 5K competitive race, run and walk, 2:05 p.m. 1-mile fun run/walkWhere: McKenzie ArenaEntry Fees: Adult 5K or 1-mile run/walk $25 today, $30 Sunday; adult competitive 5K race $30 today, $35 Sunday; 12 and under competitive 5K race $20; 12 and under 5K or 1-mile run/walk $15.Registration Times: At McKenzie Arena, noon-5 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Sunday.
Bowen said that 184 teams were registered as of last weekend, an increase of 25 percent over 2009.
“We have a new race course this year,” she said. “All of the course will be on the UTC campus, not on the Tennessee Riverwalk as it has been in past years.”
Brock’s indomitable spirit dealing with cancer is representative of how she has overcome life’s challenges throughout her life.
The native of Brooklyn, N.Y., said she worked in hotel/hospitality industry for 26 years with Marriott Corp., working her way up from a restaurant waitress to a manager for food services for colleges.
“That’s how I wound up in Chattanooga. I managed food service for the University of the South,” she said.
She was president of the Women in Tourism and served on many boards in the hospitality industry.
After the birth of her third child, she went back to school and got an associate’s degree in business management. Later, when facing divorce, she decided to follow her heart into nursing, and began courses in 2005 before her first diagnosis in 2007.
Brock says her message as honorary survivor chairman in Sunday’s Komen race is the importance of self-exams.
“I want every man and woman to have early detection, it’s important to do a self-check,” she said. “I’d just had a mammogram a few months before I found my lump.”
Since its founding, the Komen Chattanooga Race for the Cure has raised more than $2.5 million in the fight against breast cancer. Bowen stressed that 75 percent of proceeds stay in this community to help fund breast-health needs of underserved populations; 25 percent benefits Komen’s research efforts.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.