Walk To EnD Bladder CAncer 2025

May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month.  The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) sponsors a Walk to End Bladder Cancer in a number of cities or a virtual option.  I did my level best to issue invitations, on various social media venues I use to connect with fellow bladder cancer survivors, to meet for a walk on May 17th at the new Aspire park.

I put on my BCAN 2025 Walk to End Bladder Cancer t-shirt, BCAN baseball cap, packed my BCAN sling bag, filled BCAN water bottles for my wife and I, picked up my box of BCAN orange bags I had packed with information booklets and bracelets and headed to the park on a gorgeous East Tennessee day - 79 F and light breeze.

In the Knoxville area, it’s not uncommon to see orange t-shirts, but nonetheless I had a flash of hope seeing orange clad visitors on the patio outside the delightful Pearl restaurant as we pulled into the parking lot.  About the time I verified that it was, naturally, Tennessee Volunteer orange I spied, my phone buzzed to indicate that a family we knew was waiting for us. My wife and I connected with a fine couple through our church’s Cancer Companions ministry. Their kids, whom we had heard much about but not yet met, were thoroughly enjoying the play area, showing their gymnastics skills and seeking to take perfect pictures. As we began to explore the park, the girls ran to joyfully embrace a friend who happened to be enjoying the park with her mom.

My wife’s knee has been acting up and after a while she needed to take a seat on the patio.
We thanked our friends for coming out and they returned to the kids area.

It was a walk after all, and after receiving my wife’s kind permission, I set off to put in a couple more miles and display my bladder cancer awareness message to hikers and bikers enjoying the nicely paved wooded riverside walk and bikeway.

As I headed back, I pulled my phone from my pocket, connected via charging cord to a charging pack in my sling and I inquired via text if my wife was interested in getting a cocktail at the restaurant. She coyly replied “perhaps”. As I approached the Pearl, I was greeted by her beautiful smile, as she meditated in a semi-shaded comfy seat overlooking the grounds.

We took two chairs and I placed my undistributed gift bags on the bar. We ordered two of an East Tennessee version of a Wisconsin classic - a literally smoked before us Red Maple Old Fashioned (bourbon rather than brandy).

As we chatted, a gentleman came up beside me and inquired - “Jon Treffert?”.
As I turned around I recognized him immediately as a member of a software team I had led. A fine engineer and a great guy. As we caught up I learned that he was on his own, but different cancer journey. By appearance and attitude, like myself, he was winning his fight. His wife joined us and we reminisced of a gathering at our home (that which we lost to fire two years ago). Like us, their faith was a key component of maintaining hope on their walk.

I reflected on the privilege I have had to lead teams dedicated to developing new medical devices to find and defeat cancer. I reflected on the love for my wife and I that would have gone unrecognized had we not faced such trials as losing our home or my cancer diagnosis. I reflected on the fellow survivors, caregivers, physicians and researchers I’ve come to know through BCAN and other outlets. I reflected on the precious gift of the love of my wife and daughter.

I still dream of adding Knoxville to the list of cities holding a Walk to end Bladder Cancer. The attendance next year can only get better. I sincerely thank all who have given or may yet give to my walk here

Was it worth it? What do you think?