Walk for breast cancer inspirational

Locals help raise $7.1 million for breast cancer research

By Laurel Nadon
Staff reporter

Watching her best friend succumb to breast cancer was a life-altering experience for Suzanne Colborne. It inspired her to do something, anything, to make a difference.
That opportunity presented itself for the Okotoks teacher with the Walk to End Breast Cancer which was held in Calgary last weekend.
“Cancer had never really touched me until one of my best friends died,” said Colborne of her friend Shelley Florendine who was 51 when she died in May. “Her loss hit so close to home all of a sudden I realized I had to life for today.
“I wanted to make a difference. In some small way I wanted something positive to come from (losing my friend).”
Colborne’s contribution was positive, but it certainly wasn’t small. She was among the more than 2,280 people who participated in the Walk to End Breast Cancer in Calgary last weekend helping to raise an astonishing $7.1 million for cancer research. The event was the largest single fundraising event for breast cancer research in Alberta’s history. 
Approximately 50 people from Okotoks and area completed the 60 kilometre walk and together raised just over $90,000. One of these participants was Jocelyn Kew, who lost her husband Don to a rare form of cancer 19 months ago.
“We wanted to show support for people and their families who are battling now,” Kew said, adding that the walk was physically demanding.
Many of the participants wore pink T-shirts signifying they were cancer survivors.
Kew walked with several women who were breast cancer survivors themselves, including one who is writing a book about her experiences. 
Kew discussed health care with another woman who said if she’d had prostate cancer she would have received unemployment insurance, but didn’t with breast cancer.
“That was really an eye-opener,” Kew said.
Kew said that the cause was near to her heart because Don received treatment at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre.
“In our case, the centre was just amazing for care,” Kew said.
Don, who was a freelance cartoonist for the Wheel, was diagnosed on April 1, 2000 and passed away Jan. 31, 2004 at the age of 43.
“I think it’s important to give something back,” Kew said. “There’s so many people suffering and they really do need the funds for research.”
She said she also wanted to have the experience of the walk and that while it was emotional, it’s something she will always remember.
Her youngest daughter Christine took part in the walk and her older daughter Erin and nephew Cole Miller from Sherwood Park helped raise $5,665 for cancer. Each participant had to raise a minimum of $2,000 in order to join the walk.
Okotoks resident Jody Macpherson participated in the walk along with a friend who is a breast cancer survivor. 
“When you have cancer, you have to really go beyond yourself to beat it and I think that’s the message, that anything is possible and to do more than you think you can,” Macpherson said. “I felt it was a good cause. Everyone I talked to for donations had a story to tell. I found people were really receptive.”
They were receptive enough to help her raise about $2,400, which she hopes will be used to better the process of cancer treatments. 
She said that some individuals participating in the walk had raised as much as $40,000 and $60,000 and that the support along the route was amazing.
“People came out on their lawns and asked if we needed anything. If you were hot, they’d turn their sprinklers on. One guy was sitting on the lawn quietly playing his guitar for us,” Macpherson said.
One person she’ll never forget is a woman who was dressed up for the occasion and standing on a corner with a simple sign that said “heroes”, as she told each walker as they passed that they were her heroes.
Linda Mickelson, CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation, said people have already registered for next year’s event.
“We had absolutely amazing support and we’re thrilled to death with the dollars raised,” Mickelson said.
The second annual Weekend to End Breast Cancer in Calgary is planned for July 28-30, 2006, which will be followed by Edmonton’s first walk two weeks later. To learn more about the walk, visit www.endcancer.ca


She said that some individuals participating in the walk had raised as much as $40,000 and $60,000 and that the support along the route was amazing.
“People came out on their lawns and asked if we needed anything. If you were hot, they’d turn their sprinklers on. One guy was sitting on the lawn quietly playing his guitar for us,” Macpherson said.
One person she’ll never forget is a woman who was dressed up for the occasion and standing on a corner with a simple sign that said “heroes”.
Many of the participants had trained for months to take part in the 60 km walk.
For Peggy Girard, who ran with a group of eight Okotoks women dubbed the Baby Boobers, that physical commitment was what made the experience so gratifying.
“I think what made it so special was the effort you had to put in,” said Girard. “It was not someone coming to my door and asking for a cheque. I had to give of myself physically to a huge cause. It was that one time in your life you could do something for someone else.”
For many participants the physical training was not  nearly as gruelling as the fundraising.
Girard said some of her fellow walkers held garage sales, silent auctions and anything else they could think of to raise the $2,000 entry fee.
The Baby Boobers raised more than $22,000 for the cancer fundraiser.
“It was an excellent example of what a small town can do,” said Girard of the fundraising. Linda Mickelson, CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation, said people have already registered for next year’s event.
“We had absolutely amazing support and we’re thrilled to death with the dollars raised,” Mickelson said.
The second annual Weekend to End Breast Cancer in Calgary is planned for July 28-30, 2006. To learn more about the walk, visit www.endcancer.ca
For Colborne she said she will have many lasting memories from her weekend experience.
“To see all the girls who were cancer survivors really  brought tears to my eyes,” she said.
Her one regret of the weekend was that her friend Shelley was not walking beside her wearing a pink T-shirt.