A few hundred breast cancer survivors, family members and supporters took advantage of a nice day and turned out to participate in the 18th Annual BCAK Walk at Macdonald Park on Saturday May 7th, which this year was dedicated to Cathy Depew, a former member of the Board, the Executive, and also the Walk Committee, who unfortunately passed away earlier in the year.
Tony Orr from K-Rock Radio was our MC once again and was kept busy as the whole park area was used this year to accommodate several new activities taking place.
We had vendors selling jewellery and purses, a bake sale, dog grooming, and for the children there were sack races, a fish pond and cupcake decorating. Vicki Gendron, alias Pickles the Clown, was there as usual to do face painting and her novelty balloons.
16 people had their heads shaved by Bea Faraklas and her team, among them Bill Depew who raised a substantial amount in pledges. Deputy Mayor Kevin George, MPP John Gerretsen and newly elected MP Ted Hsu, each brought greetings and spoke briefly about BCAK. Ted Hsu brought his whole family down to participate and Ella, his elder daughter, was presented with a pink t-shirt. Our research speaker was Dr Bruce Elliott, a professor in the Cancer Research Institute and the Dept of Pathology & Molecular Medicine at Queens. He spoke about his research on development & validation of biomarkers of breast cancer and about the new tumour bank he and his team are setting up. Several of his fellow researchers also came out to support the event. We were entertained by Dennis Pacheco and his band Still Standin' who had to put up with us alternating between songs and the speeches due to power difficulties.
There were silent auction items and also a live auction conducted by auctioneer George Beavis, for a beautiful handmade quilt donated to BCAK which had been made by Beth Milne and her friends in memory of her friend Jen, a breast cancer survivor, and a La-Z-Boy leather recliner donated by La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries.
Pizza from Garlic Fields, cooked by Joannie Karschau and her helpers in the mobile kitchen generously loaned to us for the day by David Craig of Mobile Kitchens Canada Inc., was available for a donation after the Walk.
A big thank you is extended to the 100+ volunteers who helped make the day a success, and to all our members and their families, loyal supporters, local businesses and sponsors for their continued contributions to this annual event.
Sue Davies
Walk Committee Chair
Let's walk together and bring awareness to breast cancer and Breast Cancer Action Kingston.
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19th Annual "Walk For Awareness, Celebrate Life"
SAVE THE DATE: Sat May 12th , 2012
New location: Confederation Basin
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Watch for new pledge sheet to be posted here.
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