RN Care Coordinator Kathy Roberto reacts to the applause from the crowd at the 30th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign kickoff at Red River Theatre in Concord on Thursday. Roberto, who has helped so many women battling cancer through the years, discovered she was battling the disease as well and told her story to the audience.
RN Care Coordinator Kathy Roberto reacts to the applause from the crowd at the 30th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign kickoff at Red River Theatre in Concord on Thursday. Roberto, who has helped so many women battling cancer through the years, discovered she was battling the disease as well and told her story to the audience. Credit: Geoff Forester / Monitor staff

For most of her career, Kathy Roberto has worked with breast cancer patients.

She spent years as a nurse supporting patients, educating others, advocating and volunteering. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, she found herself on the other side of that conversation for the first time.

“I was a little bit shocked, a little bit overwhelmed. Because I know about this. I see it every day. I help women through it, but this is me,” Roberto said.

Roberto was one of several speakers who shared their stories of inspiration and perseverance at Red River Theatre on Thursday morning as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of NH kicked off its 30th annual campaign. She was joined by Mark Goldberg from the American Cancer Society; Cydney Dodge, volunteer event chair for Making Strides of NH, Mel Shokal, volunteer director of survivorship; and Kathi Russ of Making Strides of NH and American Cancer Society New England.

They shared their stories, the importance of early screening, and how far we’ve come in the fight against cancer in the past decades.

“It’s not only raising awareness that breast cancer exists but raising the funds to support the research that so many important people are doing,” Roberto said.

Join the walk for Making Strides of NH 2022 on Sunday, October 16. The walk will start and end at Memorial Field in Concord. Learn more or get involved at makingstrideswalk.org/newhampshire.