MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — A Minnesota nurse just finished a nearly 500-mile-long hike all by herself - and she did it just five weeks after having a double mastectomy.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Kelly LaMarre is sharing her story to encourage other women to prioritize their health.
"I wanted to do this for me, but I also wanted to do this for other people also going through this," said LaMarre, who is an emergency room nurse in Maplewood.
She was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer on May 15 and had surgery just a couple weeks later. By July, she was hiking the Colorado Trail.
"I did not want this cancer to end what I had worked so hard for," said LaMarre, who got her doctor's permission.
Dr. Keith Wirth said her cancer was very treatable and curable. Dr. Wirth is a fellowship trained Surgical Oncologist and Board Certified General Surgeon at M Health Fairview.
"Kelly had been very good about her screening mammograms and this is why we do them," said Dr. Wirth. "This is why, even if we see higher rates, why we’ll still see great outcomes because we’re so good at finding things earlier."
LaMarre had been training for four years to hike the trail that runs 485 miles. The highest part reaches about 13,000 feet and she said there are incredible wildflowers, scenic views and alpine lakes. It took her 43 days to finish it.
"I felt great, but I did know that I needed to take it slow that first 100 miles just to make sure things were going well," said LaMarre.
She hopes that her story especially encourages people to advocate for their health even if they're strong and healthy.
LaMarre is now cancer-free and looking forward to her next challenge - writing a book about her health and hiking experiences and eventually hiking the Pacific Crest Trail that is about 2,650 miles.
"This has actually been one of the best things to ever happen to me because it makes you appreciate everything," said LaMarre. "I feel more alive than I ever have."