'It's been a journey.' Cancer Survivors' Walk set for Oct. 15 in Canton

Calling Kymberli Jenkins a fighter does not do her justice.

The Canton native, who now lives in Tampa, is fighting off her third bout of cancer.

She's returning to Stark County to host her first "Survivors' Walk" from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 15 at Community Life Church of God in Christ-COGIC 1104 Walnut Ave. NE.

The event will include commemorative T-shirts and informational vendors' booths.

It will be followed by a free gospel music concert at the church at 6 p.m. Oct. 16.

Kymberli Jenkins' cancer story

"I have been dealing with this since 2013," Jenkins said of her illness.

Six days before her 46th birthday, Jenkins underwent her yearly mammogram.

"I always go and get my mammogram the same time every year," she said. "This time, they called me and said there was something wrong with the imaging."

Jenkins, who was living in Buffalo at the time, said she was immediately sent to the Cleveland Clinic for further testing.

"They did did three or four biopsies, all the things they need to do," she said. "When it all came back, it was breast cancer. I was devastated, of course. They immediately wanted to do surgery."

A mastectomy and reconstructive surgery followed that June.

"It's been a journey," she said. "In 2013, I was clear. They say the second and fifth year are two most important years."

"God has been good"

In December 2015, the illness returned, this time in the form of bone cancer.

"It metastasized and was literally everywhere; it was terrible," Jenkins said. "I was in a wheelchair. It was a bad, bad situation."

Jenkins said she fought off the disease a second time through a combination of chemotherapy and 10 weeks of radiation.

"As far as chemo, I'm still doing chemo," she said. "I go to the Cancer Treatment Center of Atlanta every 18 days."

Cancer returned a third time in 2017.

"It's been a battle, but God has been good," Jenkins said.

According to the American Cancer Society, Black Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial/ethnic group for most cancers.

Despite fewer cases of breast cancer, Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than white women.

Jenkins, a resident of Tampa since 2019, continues treatment at the Cancer Center Treatment Center of America at the suggestion of her daughter, Chan-Tera, who lives in Atlanta.

Jenkins said it her daughter encouraged her to undergo surgery.

"I didn't want to do it," she admits. "I felt like I would be less than a woman. My daughter said, 'Let's just do it, mom, and move forward.' I was actually angry with her, but it was best thing I could have done.'"

Creating a Survivors' Walk in Canton

Jenkins said the Survivors' Walk was suggested by her husband, the Rev. C.M. Jenkins II, pastor of Freedom Family Fellowship in Tampa. The couple has three adult children.

"This will be my first walk, believe it or not.," she said. "We've done benefit concerts, luncheons; we always try to do something."

Jenkins, a 1984 graduate of the former Timken High School, said she selected Canton because it's her hometown.

Her parents, the Rev. John and Louise McIntyre, live in town. Her father is the senior pastor of Community Life Church of God in Christ.

"My mother is also a cancer survivor," Jenkins said.

Jenkins said the event has a local team in place that includes cousin Rhonda Conner and friends Monica and Chyvonne Kimborough.

Conner said Jenkins has been a great friend.

"Kymberli brings life to the party," Conner said. "She is funny, beautiful, a great mom, faithful, and determined. Kymberli has been my A-1 since we were little girls. We support one another."

Cousin Chyvonne Kimborough said Jenkins has been an ideal role model.

"Kym is a wife, mother, sister and a friend," she said. "She loves God and her family. Kym is a fighter for the good of others and she is determined to make a difference how and where she can. She desires to use her life experiences as a means to inspire and uplift others to live on purpose."

Jenkins said the experience has increased her faith. "Simply because when I look at where I am now compared to the beginning stages."

"So now I'm walking, I'm very active.," she said. "I have my moments, but it's nowhere near where it was. My prayer life and trust in God has intensified, and of course my family, my support system is absolutely incredible."

To register for the Survivors Walk visit Eventbrite.com and enter "Kymberli Jenkins."

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Kymberli Jenkins organizes cancer Survivors' Walks in Canton