Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Stefanie Dorner raises awareness for ocular melanoma

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Ocular melanoma is a rare and aggressive cancer. Only 7,000 adults are diagnosed each year.

This week's everyday hero got her diagnosis in March of 2020. She's hosted an annual walk to raise money and awareness. It's coming up Saturday, May 17. But this year has special significance, as she learned her cancer has spread.

Stefanie Dorner and Maggie Nikolic have been walking side by side for more than a decade.

"She is an inspiration," said Nikolic.

The two have been close friends, but for the past four years they've also been collaborators.

"And at that time, I had recently been diagnosed with ocular melanoma," Dorner recalled.

It was March of 2020.

"I did research immediately and I saw how aggressive the cancer was," Nikolic said.

Nikolic came to Dorner and asked to organize a walk to raise money and awareness for Stefanie's rare cancer.

"And I told her that I was not ready to do something like that and tell my story," Dorner said.

That's because the diagnosis had come as a shock. Dorner experienced tunnel vision and within days was diagnosed with a mass on her optic nerve.

"You know you need to go to your yearly checkup. You know you need to go to the dentist. I had 20/20 vision. So, I never went to the eye doctor," she said.

Her treatment included plaque therapy, using radiation to target the tumor.

"At the time, she was so strong," said Nikolic. "She wasn't complaining. She was being her best self, all of these things. And I'm like, she still needs support through this."

Dorner came around to the idea. And "Stef's Vision: A Cure for Ocular Melanoma" began. The first walk was held in 2021.

"I've had no experience at all. I've planned my children's birthday parties, but that's about it," Nikolic said with a small laugh.

The community came together to help. The first year they had 70 participants, more than tripling that number by year three.

"You learn what's most important in life. Who your best friends are through it all," Dorner said with emotion.

And Dorner learned this year, her fight isn't over.

"My scan was in January. And unfortunately, we found out in February that it metastasized to my liver," she said.

"She said to me, I have been so used to fighting for other people, but now I have to fight for myself," Nikolic added.

The theme for this year's walk is "Eyes on the Future," for Dorner's fight, and research to find a cure.

"And I just realized that I want to be more active and really help others that might be going through this," Dorner said.

Dorner is currently undergoing treatment at UW Health in Madison.

Her walk this Saturday is sold out. But you can donate to help fight ocular melanoma by clicking here.

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].