Tri-Valley SOCKS fights breast cancer

It was 2006 when about a dozen women hit upon the idea of staging a six-mile walk around downtown Pleasanton to raise money to fight breast cancer.

The cadre of women, mostly from the Tri-Valley and including three Laboratory employees, hauled in nearly $85,000 that first year. They were stunned.

In succeeding years, the group -- known as Tri-Valley Stepping Out for Cancer Kures (SOCKs) -- raised more and more money until they hit $175,000 this year and eclipsed the million-dollar-mark with $1,085,000 raised in nine years.

"The first thing that comes to my mind is that what we’ve accomplished is ‘amazing,’" said Cheryl Hernandez, a videographer with LLNL’s television network. "I’ve seen where we’ve come from and what we’ve done."

Like Hernandez, Lab employee Stephanie Bates has been an organizer and participant in the Tri-Valley SOCKs "Bras for the Cause" walk since its inception.

The radiological characterization analyst has done the six-mile event eight of its nine years, only missing one walk to attend her best friend’s wedding.

"We’re impressed ourselves that we’ve raised $1 million in nine years," Bates said. "Almost all of us have full-time jobs; this is something we do in our spare time.

"We’re a great group of ladies and it’s a fun event. The people who participate have a great time and end up coming back year after year."

A not-for-profit corporation, Tri-Valley SOCKs raises money for local breast cancer charities in support of breast cancer research, treatment and educational programs.

The Tri-Valley organization is one of the hundreds of charities in the Lab’s Helping Others More Effectively (HOME) Campaign and 100 percent of its money goes to breast cancer programs.

The largest beneficiary of the group’s $175,000 raised this year is the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Breast Oncology Program, which received $75,000.

Over its nine-year history, close to one-third of Tri-Valley SOCKs’ funds -- $305,000 -- has been directed to front-line breast cancer research at UCSF.

Other recipients of this year’s walk money included: Pleasanton-based ValleyCare Breast Cancer Services, $50,000, for un- and under-insured patients; Pleasanton-based AXIS Community Health,  $30,000, for bilingual outreach and breast screening services for un- and under-insured patients; and the Fremont-based HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, $20,000, for post-surgical assistance to women through prosthesis, bras, wigs and other services.

The origins of Tri-Valley SOCKs date back to the early 2000s when most of the women met and got to know each other through training walks for the Avon and Susan G. Komen three-day, 60-mile walks.

"I had wanted to do something to help other people and I decided to walk in the three-day Komen event," said Robyn Middleton, the Lab’s cellular phone manager.  "While we were doing training walks, the stars aligned and we came together, with a unique connection and a great camaraderie."

The future Tri-Valley SOCKs members started a cheering section that attended breast cancer walks in San Diego and San Francisco and organized two golf tournaments as fundraisers before starting the "Bras for a Cause" walk.

"This is now our niche," Bates said. "This is the way we raise money to fight breast cancer."

Through her father’s relatives, Bates has a family history of breast cancer. In her 20s, a lump -- that turned out to be benign -- was found in one of her breasts.

"My lump scared me, given my family history. I didn’t want anyone else to have to feel that way, so I decided to participate in the Komen walks and that led me to become a part of Tri-Valley SOCKs."

Although he isn’t one of the group’s founders, a fourth Lab employee -- Tom Gorman -- has participated in all nine walks, racking up 54 miles of treks.

Gorman, the training and outreach coordinator for the Lab’s Radiological Assistance Program, was drawn into the "Bras for a Cause" walk through his wife’s breast cancer almost two decades ago.

"My wife, Barbara, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 and fully recovered," Gorman said. "After her recovery, she wanted to give back and participate in the tight community of women who had supported her when she had breast cancer. Most of the women who had helped her didn’t even know her at the beginning.

"My wife was young when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 40. This often implies a more aggressive cancer and her doctor had tears in his eyes when he told us. I was there with her; I was devastated. Over the next week, we read constantly and probably went through 25 books."

After her recovery, Gorman’s wife participated in the Avon and Komen walks and became a founding member of the group that coalesced into Tri-Valley SOCKs.

In turn, Gorman became a volunteer for the walks, assisting in logistics and setting up electronic equipment.

Throughout the history of the "Bras for a Cause" event, Gorman has served as its safety sweep, or the "caboose" as he is known, walking at the back of the pack to provide assistance to any walker who is injured or in pain.

"Almost every year, there are one or two walkers struggling through the effects of chemotherapy and walking in pain who insist on completing the course," Gorman said. "They are so emotionally invested with the cause that they want to walk the whole course, no matter what."

Any walkers who can’t complete the full six-mile course are picked up in style -- by a limousine, with Middleton as a passenger there to cheer them up.

"When people get in the limousine, I tell them, ‘Remember, you’re a hero; you helped save someone’s life with the money you raised today.  It’s not about completing the walk; it’s about raising awareness.  Now sit down and have some fun with me.’"

The "Bras for a Cause" walk is held each year on the day before Mother’s Day and starts just before dark. Last year’s event attracted about 525 walkers.

Almost everyone at the event, including men, wears a decorated bra and awards are given for the most creative, the best electrical light show, bling and the best bro-zier (best guy in a bra).

Next year’s walk is set for May 9, 2015.  The Tri-Valley SOCKs  has a website for further information.

"I think the thing that people should recognize about Tri-Valley SOCKs is how amazingly effective a small group of dedicated people, having fun, can be," Gorman said.