Heather Latter
With a power outage planned for most of Sunday, and favourable weather in the forecast, local resident Aimee Beazley is inviting the public to take part in a “Walk of Hope” for ovarian cancer awareness.
“My mom [Donna Lee] passed away August of last year from ovarian cancer,” Beazley said, adding that upon researching that type of cancer, she came across the Ovarian Cancer Canada Facebook page.
“This [walk] came up on the news feed,” she explained, noting one of her mom’s former co-workers told her that a walk was going to be taking place in Winnipeg.
“She asked me if I was going and I thought, ‘Why can’t I do one here,’” Beazley recalled.
So that’s what she has set out to do.
The walk will begin at 1 p.m. at the Point, with registration taking place at 12:30 p.m.
“People can register for free or if they want to make a donation, we will donate it to ovarian cancer,” said Beazley, stressing that people won’t be required to solicit pledges.
“Even if they are not donating, I still would like them to sign in,” she noted.
“If they want to make a donation, there will be a separate donation table.”
Beazley also is accepting donations from individuals who might not be able to attend Sunday’s walk.
Three local children, for instance, set up a table outside their home this summer with washable markers to draw tattoos on passers-by for a donation to cancer.
“They set all this up by themselves and I had no idea they had made a sign that stated ‘Tattoos for Cancer,’” said their mom, Kelly George.
“They did a great job and had people pulling over to receive a tattoo.”
Her daughter, Grace, will be donating the funds they raised to Beazley this afternoon.
For the walk itself, Beazley will have the group start at the riverfront walkway near the Point, then walk to the red sun shelter in front of La Verendrye Hospital and back.
“It’s exactly 5K,” she noted, adding there will be a water station at the sun shelter, as well as water, fruit, and some ice cream cups at the end of the walk.
Beazley said people also can participate by running or biking. However, those on bikes are asked to use the bike path.
At least 30 people are confirmed to attend Sunday’s walk, but Beazley is hoping for more.
“My mom knew a lot of people,” she remarked, noting she’s holding the event in memory of her mother.
“But it’s also for awareness, too.”
Beazley is encouraging participants to wear the teal—the official colour for ovarian cancer awareness.
“And sunflowers are the signature flower, so I’m going to look for some of the sunflower garden stakes to use as a kilometre marker,” she added.
Beazley also is looking for volunteers to help her out.
If anyone has questions, or would like to donate or help out, contact Beazley at 274-8541 or via e-mail at uahlp@vianet.ca
