Rising Stars: Meet Melanie Bacheler of N Raleigh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Bacheler.

Hi Melanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My mother was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer when she was 54 years old and she passed away 2 years later. My mother and I were very close, and I decided to plan a walk as a way to channel my grief, honor her memory, and to give back to Duke for the amazing care she had received. That was 23 years ago and over the past 23 years 5.6 million dollars has been raised all of which goes directly to the Duke Cancer Institute specifically for ovarian cancer research. 15,000+ people have attended in person and thousands have participated virtually. This event has become like a holiday in my family and with many others as well. Last year a participant told me that their family gets together every year for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the walk since they are scattered around the U.S.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is truly a labor of love and not too many things worthwhile are ever easy. Some things about it are easy, since we do it year after year but since this is our 23rd year, often people find new “causes” or things to support so fundraising can be difficult. We do have a very loyal following and feel lucky to have so many returning participants and sponsors. One year we did have to reschedule which the city can’t guarantee so I was very thankful they allowed us to do that, and a couple of years we have had some not so great weather! I can control a lot of things, but the weather is not one of them, but we do tend to be extremely lucky in the weather department each year. Rain or shine can be a tad stressful but we always do make it work and then we just have fun stories to tell.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Before my mother got sick, I had been in pharmaceutical sales and also taught at Peace College which is now William Peace University. I had loved working and enjoyed both very much, but with a 6-month-old and a diagnosis of ovarian cancer for my mother, I took what I tell everyone as early retirement. Taking care of my mother became my full-time job as well as being a wife and new mother myself. I have also taught team gymnastics a couple of nights a week for close to 20 years, so feel I am also known as a coach to many people in the area. I have prided myself on being involved in my community and volunteer as often as I can. I do have a hard time telling people no. The ovarian walk, which is what I call it, “the walk”, but it is a walk and a run and much more, has become my full-time job so to speak as I work on it a little bit every day. Not sure what really sets me apart from others, but I do try and always follow through on what I say. At the walk each year there are so many people I want to catch up with and speak to and when someone taps me on my shoulder or grabs my attention, they get me 100%, and I am pretty proud of that. I truly care about the ovarian cancer survivors/supporters and work hard to make the event as special as I can for them. I am also pretty proud of my family and how this event has shaped them and their priorities. You will pretty much see my husband every year putting up tents and tables and my kid’s hauling waters and taping up signs and how they help promote and fundraise for the event/cause every year. So definitely proud of my family.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think since I have walked in many of the caregiver’s shoes, it helps me relate to them. I hope I never walk in the survivor’s shoes, I pray I never get this awful disease that has taken so many people I know and loved, but my connection to ovarian cancer has definitely been a key factor in its success. I know from personal experience the lack of community awareness for the disease and how ovarian cancer affects friends and families. Even though the fundraising is the driving force of the event, community awareness and just bringing the words ovarian cancer to the public is so important. Noone speaks about ovarian cancer. You do not see billboards or hear commercials about ovarian cancer and even famous people who have passed away or lost loved ones from ovarian cancer, minimal noise is heard from them as well. Sorry, got off subject a tad, but I guess I feel my relatability and compassion have helped me make this event special.

Pricing:

• $40 for the walk
• $45 for the run
• $45 virtual
• $45 for both the run and walk

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.ovarianawareness.org/
• Instagram: gpmovariancancer
• Facebook: Gail Parkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Walk & 5K Run