Walk for Life looks to raise awareness

Despite the unpleasant weather, participants weren’t deterred from participating in the annual Moose Jaw Walk for Life.

A total of 43 walkers took part in the event, part of an annual fundraiser for Moose Jaw Right to Life that brought in $1,164 this year.

“On this rainy day, it’s a wonderful turnout. It went very well; it was peaceful and I feel like maybe we’re even making a statement by walking in the rain,” Moose Jaw Right to Life president Jean Landry said. “You just want the community to know that life is precious and that’s how we remind them occasionally that we’re out there.” The majority of the funds go toward supporting the organization’s Main Street office, which acts as a hub for their free maternity and baby clothes giveaways every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Being able to offer such a service is part of Right to Life’s goals. “It’s nice to celebrate the life of a newborn baby and help the mothers in any little way that we can,” Landry said. “It’s basically the community that’s helping us because of all the donations that are coming in... we have so many people coming through and it’s wonderful, just wonderful.”

Walkers who took part in the event also carried signs with various positive messages in support of their cause, offering points of view such as ‘love both the mother and unborn child’; ‘adoption rather than abortion’ and one of the main focuses of Right to Life as of late, ‘quality palliative care over euthanasia’.

“It’s very important for us, especially now with the euthanasia issue,” Landry said. “There are so many people who are lonely and feel their life has no value and we just really need to reach out to them. Let them know that there’s still a purpose for their life.”

Landry says that by looking at each case with a careful eye, it’s possible to offer improved palliative care in some cases where euthanasia is being considered.

“Is it because they’re in so much pain and, if so, is there an alternative? Is there better palliative care available? There might be so many other options,” she said. The pro-life conversation also focused on an ongoing issue for potential families – the lack of babies currently up for adoption.

“It’s one of the things that is never really talked about anymore when it used to be,” Landry said. “So many people don’t think of that as a choice and there are so many people who are waiting to adopt and there basically aren’t enough babies... by having a child, a family could be created even if you give the baby up for adoption.”

For more information check out the Moose Jaw Right to Life Facebook page or moosejawrighttolife.ca webpage.