The sheer grit of a single individual can sometimes manifest in actions that echo well beyond the original intent, casting ripples across the fabric of community and awareness. Jim Hickey knows this all too well. His determination isn't just for show—it's a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by children like 9-year-old Stella Serna who is in a fierce battle with cancer. As reported by FOX San Antonio, the retired Marine made the 80-mile journey from Austin to San Antonio by foot to drum up support for Stella's treatment and the plight of many others like her.
Hickey's march not only intends to attract attention but also funding, as Stella's family faces the uphill battle of her medical costs. Her family has initiated a support page with hopes of raising $25,000 for her treatment. Hickey, whose strides have spanned over 9,000 miles for cancer awareness and research over the last 26 years, is no stranger to the emotional and financial toll this disease can take. KVUE details a history steeped in personal tragedy with his father dying of prostate cancer and his brother's subsequent diagnosis.
Hickey believes the physical effort and distance covered by foot makes a greater impact, saying to KVUE, “Everybody bikes. I figured with doing these long distances, then it's gonna raise more awareness for cancer.” His unique method of advocacy began in 1998 as a response to his own family's experiences with the illness. He has since dedicated his long-distance walks to the cause of cancer, particularly childhood cancer—a cause where urgency is matched only by necessity.
Stella's own challenge with cancer has been both resilient and harrowing, diagnosed in 2021, she went through 35 rounds of radiation treatment. Stella faced a resurgence in 2023 with additional tumors found on her spine and in her brain, while also battling lymphoma in her lungs. Her mother, Cynthia Vanegas, expressed that the journey has altered their whole existence, not only emotionally, but financially as well. As Vanegas told KVUE, the difficulty comes with a sobering revelation: "You just never think it's going to happen to you." And now, even as Hickey battles cancer himself having been diagnosed with bladder and kidney cancer two years ago, his conviction remains unwavering.
The culmination of this trek was a meeting with Stella and her family at a fire station in San Antonio, a symbolic end to a long journey. Hickey's initiative serves as a beacon, drawing attention not only to Stella's battle but also to the broader issues surrounding childhood cancer. It's a story that he hopes will inspire others to take even small steps towards support in their own communities, he told KVUE, “I’m carrying my dad's pain, and I’m using his pain to help other people.”
