BRUNSWICK

For Topsham resident Jane Baker, the death of her boyfriend, Blaine Clark, to brain cancer last year is still an open wound.

“He was my love, he’s my best friend. It’s been a year, and I cry for him every day still and every night when I go to bed,” said Baker.

To honor Clark, Baker is planning on holding a walk on Saturday, May 10 at 10 a.m. at the bike path overlooking the Androscoggin River. The walk will not be a fundraiser for any organization. She said she merely wants to gather people to honor Clark’s memory and to raise awareness of brain cancer.

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month, and Baker said she wants to hold the walk to honor those afflicted with the disease and to raise awareness.

The American Cancer Society’s estimates for brain and spinal cord tumors in the United States for 2014 include both adults and children.

About 23,380 malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord will be diagnosed in 2014, according to the American Cancer Society. About 14,320 will die as a result. However, the chance that someone will develop a malignant tumor in the brain or spinal cord is less than 1 percent.

Survival rates for brain and spinal cord tumors vary widely, depending on the type of tumor, according to the ACS.

Clark and Baker met at a time when Clark was seeking follow-up treatment for lung cancer. Baker was a medical secretary for about 28 years, and worked in radiation oncology for nine years.

They were together for three and a half years until Clark’s death.

Baker said they were happy together, and she described Clark, an Army and Navy veteran, as a “macho man” with tattoos who worked at Bath Iron Works. But Clark also had a sensitive side, especially when it came to memories of his service in Vietnam.

But Baker said she began to notice a change in Clark’s personality and grew suspicious that something was wrong. His cancer was diagnosed in June 2012, she said.

Baker said she served as Clark’s caregiver until Clark died March 2013. No obituary was run at Clark’s request, said Baker. More than a year later, Baker’s grief is still very close to the surface.

“I cry all the time,” Baker said. “I have his picture, and I’ll talk to him about the day.”

Baker said there may be a few friends who will join her during the walk on Saturday, and she hopes that the walk becomes an annual event.

“We’re going to have a walk that day, and anyone who wants to can join us,” Baker said.

For more information, contact Baker at [email protected].

ABOUT 23,380 malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord will be diagnosed in 2014, according to the American Cancer Society. About 14,320 will die as a result. However, the chance that someone will develop a malignant tumor in the brain or spinal cord is less than 1 percent.