“To walk 60 km in two days will be quite a challenge”.  The thousands of participants will be walking through the neighbourhoods of Toronto to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. The four team-mates are now on summer military training at different Canadian Forces Bases across the country, however, they have all started to prepare for the grueling two day event. Upon their return to RMC at the end of August, the ladies will be training daily as a team to be ready for the big weekend.  

To participate in this National Fundraising Event, a minimum of $2,000 has to be raised per person; however the team has set their goal at $10,000. “This is a very realistic target”, says 2Lt Whitty, who is currently completing a Masters programme in Biomedical Engineering.   “With support from family, friends and those who may have known someone who has been affected by this dreadful disease, we will arrive in Toronto proud, knowing that we made a difference”.  

All the money raised goes to the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, an international leader in the fight against cancer and the largest institution in Canada devoted to cancer treatment, innovative research and education programs. Net proceeds will support groundbreaking research, moving us one step closer to a future without breast cancer.  

“ I saw what my grandmother had to go through and don’t want anyone else to have to go through the same thing. Finding a cure will be the ultimate gift to everyone who has suffered or who is suffering presently.” explains OCdt Teri Share, a III Year Civil Engineering student.  Amanda Jayne, also a III year cadet studying Civil Engineering is currently serving at CFB Esquimalt,
 

Victoria, B.C. takes time out from her busy duties with the Navy to prepare for this event.  “ I will show up in September fit and ready to go”.  Even though the personal reasons motivating the four ladies are different, they have the same ultimate goal: finding a cure. 

According to the National Cancer Institute of Canada, approximately 20,500 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and about 5,400 will die from the disease. Cancer not only affects one person, the families and loved ones will also suffer the turmoil of the disease. Even though the survival rate has increased over the past decade, research still has to continue; one mother who dies from breast cancer is still one too many.   

For more information on how you can help these ladies achieve their goal and to help defeat breast cancer – please contact Michelle Whitty at michellewhitty@hotmail.com or  613 583-0909; Amanda Bruni at Amanda.Bruni@rmc.ca or 613 453-6329. 

Better still, visit anyone of their individual web sites and make a pledge: 

Michelle Whitty : http://to05.endcancer.ca/site/TR?px=1248337&pg=personal&fr_id=1000

Amanda Jayne : http://to05.endcancer.ca/site/TR?px=1206789&pg=personal&fr_id=1000

Amanda Bruni : http://to05.endcancer.ca/site/TR?px=1267354&pg=personal&fr_id=1000