One in eight Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85.
Recognising this, and other alarming statistics about women’s cancers, a group of Latrobe Valley friends have decided to challenge themselves with a 60 kilometre walk over two days in Melbourne this March to raise money to help find a cure.
Annette Anderson, Natalie Gannon, Grada Hansch, Sandra De Goey, who work together in a Morwell office, and their friends Penny Lyall and Rachael Grieve will walk as a team in the Weekend to End Women’s Cancer on 1 and 2 March.
Calling themselves Sisters Walking Together, the group was inspired by friends and loved ones touched by the diseases to raise money for the Peter MacCullum Cancer Centre’s care and research.
“I think everyone is touched by women’s cancer in some way,” Ms Gannon said.
The group has so far raised about $5000 through various office events, but hopes to gain majority of the money, the $12,000 it must earn to participate, at a trivia and auction night on 15 February.
The night commences at 7pm at St Michael’s Hall Traralgon, with drinks at bar prices and entrants encouraged to take their own nibbles.
Ms Hansch said 11 of the 18 tables of 10 had already been booked, with the cost of $10 per person going towards Peter Mac.
Ms Grieve said the group had received “fantastic support” from local businesses, who had donated various items and gift vouchers towards the raffle and auction.
She said she thought their support stemmed from the fact that “cancer affects the entire community” not just the people suffering.
To book a table at the trivia night or to donate money or items phone Ms Hansch on 0428 276 585 or visit the Facebook page, ‘Sisters walking together to end women’s cancer’.
