On Sept. 11, friends, families, ovarian cancer survivors and anyone else interested in supporting the cause and walking a 2.5 or 5km route for Ovarian Cancer Canada, will gather at the Clock Tower in Victoria Park, Kitchener.
Registration begins at 9am and the official welcome and walk will commence at 10am.
Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr and other local dignitaries will be on hand to bring greetings and encourage participants. All monies raised by registered teams and individuals through the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope, will be used to finance Ovarian Cancer Canada’s numerous support and education programs as well as to fund ongoing ovarian cancer research for developing reliable early detection techniques and improved treatments.
Each year, the national Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope rallies communities to help turn up the volume on one of the most serious of all gynecological cancers.
Over 2,600 Canadian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year and every year 1,750 women succumb to the disease.
Symptoms are varied, vague, and easily missed. There is no screening test to detect it. But when found early – and treated – ovarian cancer survival rate is 90%.
That is the goal and hope for women battling the disease. Failure to find the disease in its early stages is partly due to lack of sensitive detection tests and ignoring warning signs.
Registration for the Kitchener Mini Walk of Hope is free to all participants.
There are activities planned for the children including face-painting and crafts, refreshments and more.
Glynis Belec, of Drayton, an ovarian cancer survivor and one of the organizers of the Kitchener walk, will be the guest speaker and share her story as she encourages women to realize that knowledge is power. Belec, a freelance writer and author, has contributed a story about her cancer journey to a new anthology – A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider (That’s Life Communications) and signed copies of the book will be available at the event, with $5 from each sale going directly to Ovarian Cancer Canada.
Another committee member, Amanda Newton, of Alma, is impressed with the sponsors and volunteers who are finding important ways to support the Kitchener walk.
“It makes me extremely happy that we have so many people to support us,” ,” said Newton. Everyone from sponsors, to volunteers, to participants and survivors – they are the ones who help make this a special day for everyone.”
Pre-register online at www.ovariancancerwalkofhope.ca, or register in person the morning of the walk.
For further information contact 519-638-3215; gbelec@bell.net; or walkofhope.kitchener@gmail.com.
