by Rachel Witkowski
Staff Writer
Donna Hicken has been themed as one tough “fighter” — she’s fought breast cancer twice, fought for time with her family as a media celebrity and is starting a national marathon to fight breast cancer. But the one thing she hasn’t fought for, yet, is retirement.
“I have a difficult time saying ‘no’ to people,” said Hicken. “I’ve got to find time to be home with the family. I’ve got my hands in enough things already.”
Time is something that Hicken said she needs more of, but every minute she spends is doing something that she loves. Hicken has been a news anchor and reporter for 22 years since she graduated from Florida State University with a degree in communication. She has been with TV 12/25 for about 18 years.
“I love what I do. Plus, I love journalism,” she said.
But Hicken became news in 1999 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer and again in 2002. Many TV viewers saw the weight change, the hair change and the emotional changes Hicken experienced.
“When I was first diagnosed I thought, I do not want to be a poster child with this disease,” she said.
Hicken feared that her time was running short, but her doctor had other plans. Dr. Edith Perez, Hematology, Oncology and internal medicine professor at Mayo Clinic, became more than just Hicken’s test lab partner. Today, Perez is a close friend, weekly running companion and one tough coach for Hicken.
“She’s promised to keep me running,” said Hicken. “Once you’re a cancer survivor, you have this tremendous obligation to do something more with it. Edith taught me that.”
With the support of Perez, children Drew and Danielle, and husband/co-worker TV 12/25 Chief Meteorologist Tim Deegan, Hicken took on more marathons than ever. She started the Donna Hicken Foundation to financially support women who are fighting breast cancer. In 2004, she published her first book, “The Good Fight,” which records her life during her bouts with cancer and her interaction with the public through her online journal and other survivors of breast cancer. But one of her even larger goals and possibly the grand finale, will be starting an annual marathon. And, it will be the only marathon in the nation to solely raise money for breast cancer research and its survivors.
The 26.2 With Donna was announced to the public last week and is a collaboration with Mayo Clinic and Perez with the goal of finding a cure for breast cancer, according to Hicken.
“The enormous hurdle was getting Mayo Clinic to sign on with us,” said Hicken. “They wanted to make the community realize that they care about us.”
And there’s a lot of care that will go into the marathon since it will be another 20 months before the event will take place in Jacksonville Beach.
“It takes a long time to really plan a marathon,” she said. “I want to plan everything first class. I want the runners to be happy. I want the community to be happy.”
Among the event’s major planners is director Jeff Galloway, a former Olympian, fitness book author and marathon trainer, who will also train runners for the 26.2 With Donna. But the marathon is not just for trained, professional athletes. The Feb. 15-17, 2008 event is open to the public and will consist of a full race, a shorter marathon and a children’s marathon.
Hicken said they are currently looking for sponsorship to fund the marathon and though she expects to put in a lot of time to plan the event, she will eventually “sign off” on duties later.
“It’s going to be interesting to see if I can run this race,” she said.
Founding a national marathon is one battle Hicken will gladly take on and is determined to beat, but she said she has no plans to start any other life marathons any time soon.
“I’m able to give up some control, more than I used to,” she said. “I think I used to be the kind of person who would say, ‘I’d be happy when ... ‘ or ‘I’d be happy if ... ‘ and I don’t say that at all anymore. The truth is, what you have is right in front of you.”