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Breast cancer survivor runs for her life
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Covington resident Joan LeJeune ran her first 10K race this Saturday in Atlanta’s globally renowned AJC Peachtree Road Race. "I have run in several 5K races, but never anything like this one," says Joan.

LeJeune was just one of the 55,000 plus runners from around the world who took to the streets in the July 4th tradition marking its fortieth year. Thousands of cheering spectators encouraged Joan and the others along the 6.2 mile route that began at Lenox Square Mall and ended at Piedmont Park where participants received the coveted race T-shirt.

Race T-Shirts feature a new design every year and are a big source of pride for those who can make it through the July heat and several uphill treks including the infamous Cardiac Hill near Piedmont Hospital. Professional and amateur runners alike consider themselves very fortunate to receive one.

LeJeune wears the T-shirt proudly as a symbol of survival of not only the race, but of her long struggle with a life threatening illness — breast cancer.

"I was diagnosed back in 2005 with cancer in my left breast," said LeJeune. She underwent a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy at Newton Medical Center. After a disappointing pathology report indicated the presence of more cancer, LeJeune’s surgeon scheduled her for a mastectomy. NMC oncologists prescribed additional aggressive treatment. After six rounds of chemotherapy and over seven weeks of radiation therapy, Joan’s cadre of doctors pronounced her as cancer free. A year later, she opted to have reconstructive plastic surgery.

Joan currently works as a registrar in The Women’s Diagnostic Center at Newton Medical Center. Some might consider LeJeune to be a cheerleader as she helps women every day who have made the decision to have a regular mammogram. "I make sure to schedule a yearly digital mammogram at the WDC for myself and I urge every woman I know to do the same," said LeJeune.

Digital mammography is the best means of early detection of breast cancer when treatment is more successful. The American Cancer Society recommends a yearly mammogram for women age 40 and older or sooner for women at high risk. For more information or an appointment for a digital mammogram at The Women’s Diagnostic Center, call 770.385.7800.

April 3 crash kills two young adults, injures third
Newton County Sheriff Car---WEB

NEWTON COUNTY — Around 10 a.m. on Thursday, a head-on collision on Highway 212 left two young adults dead and a third hospitalized.

Joe Navarro, 21, was driving the vehicle and Breanna Smith, 18, was in the passenger seat. Katie New, 20, sat between them.

According to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle lost control while going around a curve and crossed the centerline, where it collided head-on with a box truck. The crash report shows that their vehicle traveled another hundred feet after impact before coming to a stop. It spun, ended up facing the opposite direction on the shoulder of the opposite lane.

Navarro and Smith were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. New was airlifted to Grady Hospital. Her current condition is not known. 

Navarro, Smith and New were not believed to be wearing seatbelts when the collision occurred.

The driver of the box truck was not reported to have suffered any injuries.

This is an ongoing story. The News will post updates as they are made available.