Join the Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope to make a difference for Women's Health

Local OCC volunteers are hosting walks in Abbotsford, Duncan, Kamloops, Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria this year, in order to raise money for education and research into testing and care for this deadly cancer.

Some 2500 Canadian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, while 1700 die annually. Vagueness of symptoms and the lack of a reliable screening test make it one of the most fatal cancers for women, with a five year survival rate of less than 30 percent.

Some of the money raised by walkers and their donors will be used to educate women about the disease, which can help save or extend lives dramatically.

"Most women lack knowledge of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer," says BCNU President Debra McPherson. "Raising women's awareness is vital because early detection increases the rate of survival to ninety percent."

Getting involved is as easy as visiting the Walk of Hope website and locating the nearest host community. You can register as an individual or join an existing team, or you can conscript other nurses and form a team of your own. If you are unable to walk for any reason, you can still register as a virtual walker.

The OCC Walk of Hope website makes the fundraising side easier too, offering creative tips on how to grow financial support for your walk. This year, all participants raising over $100 are eligible to receive a t-shirt.

The BCNU campaign bus is scheduled to be on hand for the Vancouver Walk for Hope, at Queen Elizabeth Park (33rd and Cambie), from 8:00 am on.

In the past eight years, BC's Walk of Hope has raised about a million dollars, while nationally over $14-million has been raised since 2002.