July 23, 2009
Man's putting both feet down against cancer
By Christopher Behnan
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
Next month, Tim McDonnell will help raise awareness of breast cancer by walking 60 miles for the 2009 Detroit Breast Cancer 3-Day to benefit the Susan G. Komen For the Cure fund.
He will also be raising awareness of another kind — about the astronomical costs of treating cancer, especially for the uninsured.
He knows firsthand, although he is fortunate enough to have good health insurance.
His wife, Andi, was diagnosed with breast cancer one year ago, and today will be receiving the last session of an intravenous treatment that would have cost $10,000 had it been paid on an out-of-pocket basis.
The average cost of her treatments came to $19,000.
Fortunately, the McDonnells were insured through Andi McDonnell's job at the University of Michigan. But the experience gave the couple an insight into the plight of the uninsured.
Tim McDonnell set his fundraising goal at $15,000, and he is closing in on his mark.
"To me, the thing I found about was, gosh, what would you do if you were in our situation and you had no insurance? You would be bankrupt," he said.
"If I could get $15,000, it would either help research or help the Komen foundation pay for somebody's chemotherapy that didn't have good health insurance," he explained.
The Hamburg Township man said the 3-Day — set for Aug. 14-16 through metropolitan Detroit — will be the his first charitable walk since the sixth grade, when he walked for the March of Dimes.
Tim McDonnell, who accompanied his wife to most of her appointments and treatments, learned about the cancer walk while sitting in a waiting room one day.
He registered for the event in March, and has walked about 500 miles since then to prepare. By the end of the 3-Day, he said he will have walked the equivalent of Pinckney to New York City.
He's developed an ad slogan of sorts: "One foot at a time!" — a reference to the fact that a donation of 5 cents per foot for 60 miles would equal roughly $15,000.
Friends and family have backed his effort, and donated generously. He's committed to dyeing his hair pink once he reaches his fundraising goal, and keeping it pink until after the walk.
His donors have reached deep in their pockets, despite tough economic times.
"I felt if I didn't set a big goal, I probably wouldn't hit one. They have all gone above and beyond," he said.
Today, Andi McDonnell is healthy, largely thanks to early detection in June of last year. She'll be on cancer treatments for the next five years, but the cancer hasn't spread.
Tim McDonnell said his wife's resolve and positive attitude to her ordeal inspire him to keep walking.
She has continued her work at U-M, and is pursing a master's degree in interior design. She suffers from excessive fatigue, but joins her husband on shorter walks during his training regimen.
She said she'll serve as a cheerleader when her husband makes the 60-mile trek next month.
"He's really done an amazing job, stepping up, helping me. We've become much closer," she said.
"I am just really, really proud of how he has stepped up to try to raise awareness of the issue and to really raise a chunk of money to go toward research so other people don't have to go through what I've gone through. I'm very proud of him," she added.
Contact Daily Press & Argus reporter Christopher Behnan at (517) 548-7108 or at cbehnan@gannett.com.
Additional Facts 
