Sherbrooke Record

Cancer Walk

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CONT’D

Why I walk

“I’ve been participat­ing since the beginning of the walk,” explained Janet Gibbons. “I’m one of the originals. We’ve come a long way since the beginning,” she said.

According to Gibbons, the event now runs like a well-oiled machine, thanks in large part to support from the community.

“We have numerous volunteers, some since the very beginning,” Gibbons said.

“There are so many generous people who give gifts,” she explained, as prizes for the person that raises the most money, or even for the best fundraisin­g dog.

“A tremendous amount of businesses buy ad signs that we put along the walk,” Gibbons said, adding that some have been sponsoring the walk since day one.

“I walk because I’m a survivor,” Gibbons said, “this year, I’m celebratin­g my tenth year.”

Gibbons stressed the importance of continuing to bring awareness to the need to fight the awful disease of cancer, and also to demonstrat­e, through the walk, how much support is available.

“You never have to be alone,” she said.

Catherine St-pierre walks so that some day, other people won’t have to.

“We have to find a way to prevent this by getting the tools we need to get us there,” St-pierre said.

“I see so many people doing all the right things, and they are still getting cancer,” the personal trainer said. “They have done everything they could do on their own. That’s where research comes in,” St-pierre said, “and the need for equipment.”

St-pierre goes to her gynecologi­st every three months to monitor potentiall­y cancerous cells.

“I’ve been going through this for eight years. We need to fix this,” she said.

Registrati­on can be done online at https://fondationb­mp.ca/en/events/18th-walk-to-fight-womens-cancers-2/

It is also possible to register the morning of the walk onsite at the Brome Lake Community Centre between 8 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.

A minimum contributi­on of $25 is required to participat­e.

 ?? BCN ARCHIVES ?? 2002: Brome Lake fitness organizers Pat Duncan, Janet Gibbons, Jo Ann Lavallee with volunteer medic Gil Martineau and singer Robert Atyeo at the first walk. The following year, the torch was passed on to the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club, and the event evolved over the years into the Walk to Fight Women’s Cancers, with proceeds from the event going directly to equipment and resources at BMP hospital to help local women.
BCN ARCHIVES 2002: Brome Lake fitness organizers Pat Duncan, Janet Gibbons, Jo Ann Lavallee with volunteer medic Gil Martineau and singer Robert Atyeo at the first walk. The following year, the torch was passed on to the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club, and the event evolved over the years into the Walk to Fight Women’s Cancers, with proceeds from the event going directly to equipment and resources at BMP hospital to help local women.

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