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Walking 60 km in two days to fight against women's cancers would seem to have little to do with a shopping trip - but it does for six women with strong Cramahe ties.
A year ago Rebecca Breau, Juliette Stolte, Jennifer McNutt, Christa Saillian, Liz St. Louis and Lindsey Stedman-Smith decided they wanted a change from their annual shopping pilgrimage to the States. They came up with a decision to help in the fight against women's cancers - and they were willing to sacrifice to do it. They chose to enter the annual Toronto Weekend to End Women's Cancers.
They, like most of us, have friends or relatives who have been affected by cancer; it was a good cause. At the time they saw it as an opportunity to get into shape, walking 32 km on a Saturday, then heading back out to walk another 28 km on Sunday. Most of them are moms who have been getting together with their kids at the weekly Cramahe playgroup.
Last December, the journey became much more personal when 36-year-old Rebecca was diagnosed with advanced invasive ductal breast cancer. The team bond was now much deeper and more intrinsic and became a pressing reason to drive them forward in their quest.
Speaking on her walk page, Rebecca says, "These women, including my sister and four friends, continue to encourage and inspire me, providing me with love at every step."
Since December, Rebecca has undergone chemotherapy, surgery and is currently in the midst of radiation at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto where she stays for five days a week.
The group has been dubbed the Apple Blossom Gang because of their ties to the apple country around Cramahe. Each member must raise $2,000 to qualify to enter the September 11-12 walk through the city. By fundraising through a bake sales, a bottle drive, youth dances, and a Wal Mart bbq, and by accepting donations, they are a little over half way there. They are continuing to fundraise as they aproach the big weekend.
Each of the women writes on her endcancer web page about her connection with the walk.
Jennifer talks of how the diagnosis of cancer in a friend affects those who love her. Jennifer can't answer the questions "Why?" and "How?", but she can help by raising money in the walk.
When Christa first heard about the walk she was seven months pregnant - it just wasn't convenient. But last December, through Rebecca, she realised that cancer doesn't wait for a convenient time - she joined up.
Liz already runs half marathons - in fact, her friends were cheering her on in a race when they came up with the idea of entering the walk. "We owe it to our mothers, daughters, sisters, and ourselves to find a cure," she says on her endcancer page.
Rebecca's younger sister, Lindsey, shares a family connection with the disease. Their mother, Gayle Jones, and their grandmother, Elizabeth Robson, both contracted cancer at later stages in their lives. Lindsey and Rebecca had talked often about the possibiities of it finding them too. She asked to join and was welcomed to the team.
Juliette has a close connection with cancer through some aunts. She admits she's not in shape, and has trouble walking - but she's going to complete the walk.
As Rebecca says, "It's just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other and not giving up - that's what I intend to do."
To Donate
Write a cheque to The Weekend to End Women's Cancers and mail it to -
Rebecca Breau
R R 2
127 Parliament St.
Colborne K0K 1S0
To donate to the team online go to the link below -
http://www.endcancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Toronto2010?team_id=91706&pg=team&fr_id=1440
and scroll down to the list of names on the team. Click on one of the names and when the new page comes up click on "Donate Online". Remember to check the thermometer on the person's page. If she has already reached her required $2,000, you might conside donating in support of one of the women who hasn't.
or
click on
"Support the Apple Dumpling Gang" and print off the donation form which you can mail in.
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Cramahe Township Councillor Ed Van Egmond is running for re-election. The councillor stated his intentions this spring and filed his papers late last week.
