More than 1,000 walk to end women’s cancers
Posted Jul 24, 2010 12:16 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A massive crowd gathered at Currie Barracks Saturday morning.
They’re all taking part in the Weekend to End Women’s Cancers.
Over two days, most will trek 60 kilometres across the city raising money for cancer research.
However, some are opting to do half that with the one-day, 30-kilometre walk instead.
All funds raised this weekend support the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
Sharelle says she’s involved because her mom was diagnosed five years ago.
“We’ve been doing it ever since and then, we just lost her in November and so this year’s for her.”
Along the way, residents who live along the walking route have set up lemonade stands to show their support for the walkers. Some have even hung pink balloons in their doorways.
But where there are tears, there are also smiles as supporters rally to fight the growing threat.
‘Boobs on Bikes’ is one of the groups, with girls dressed up in pink and riding motorcycles. Another team donned eye patches and carried swords, dubbing themselves the ‘Pirates of the Cure-abbean.”
“Well, we’re walking for our girlfriend, Joy, who is a survivor and our girlfriend Tina, who passed away a month and a half ago. We’re all friends forever,” says one of the pirates.
One in seven Canadian women will be diagnosed with either breast or a gynecological cancer in their lifetime.
Over the past five years, the event has raised more than $22 million for cancer research across the province.
