Walk co-chair Janis Trainor is calling this year's Comox Valley Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope a huge success.
With everyone's support, including merchants from around the Comox Valley and in Campbell River, the local walk, held last Sunday at Simms Park, raised an estimated $23,000, according to Trainor.
"We had amazing people out to support the cause and walk with us," said said. "The walk was filled with smiles and tears and a lot of hope."
Participants were honoured by guest speakers Brad Nelson, an ovarian cancer specialist from Victoria, and Eileen Beadle, who is an Ovarian Cancer chairperson, noted Trainor.
The group of walkers included a team called Orange Toes for Colleen, which worked together and raised more than $11,000 in just three short weeks.
Orange Toes for Colleen recieved the Holly Trainor Award as the team that raised the most money. The award honours Janis Trainor's mother, Holly, who brought the Walk of Hope to the Comox Valley after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2000 and who lost her battle with the disease in October 2009.
This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope.
Canadians in 49 cities across the country raised more than $2.6 million to help overcome ovarian cancer — the country’s most fatal women’s cancer, according to Ovarian Cancer Canada.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of all participants, volunteers, sponsors and donors for making yesterday’s Walk of Hope such a huge success," Elisabeth Ross, CEO of Ovarian Cancer Canada, said in a news release. "The money that was raised will go a long way in helping women and their families impacted by this disease. In fact, it will help all women.”
September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and all women are encouraged to be aware of the signs and symptoms of this disease, which include swelling or bloating of the abdomen, pelvic discomfort or heaviness, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency).
Other symptoms may include a change in bowel habits, nausea, fatigue, menstrual irregularities and weight loss or gain. Women with one or more of these symptoms that last for three weeks or longer should see their doctor, according to Ovarian Cancer Canada.
If anybody would like to be on the Comox Valley Walk of Hope committee for next year's event, they can contact Trainor at comoxwalkofhope@hotmail.ca.
writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com