A8-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, AugusE 29, 2006 COMMUNITY Gearing up for weekend walk for cancer cure By Stephanie Thiessen CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF When Milton resident Kate Laugbland discovereda lump in hier breast last year, bier doctor told bier flot to worry about it - she was young and bier faim- ily had no history of breast cancer. Fortunately, sbe didn't listen to him. lI knew sometbing was wrong," Laughland said. She went to another doctor and found out the lump was cancerous. Laugbland, 43, credits the Milton doctor - who took bier suspicions seriously - witb saving bier lufe. Tbe two years before bier diagnosis, Laugbland bad participated in tbe Weekend to End Breast Cancer, in wbîcb participants walk 60 km over two days to raise funds and awareness for Princess Margaret Hospital's breast cancer programs. Last year tbougb, sbe couldn't par- tucipate as a walker because ber mastec- tomy was scbeduled for tbe following day Tben, in an even stranger twist, Laugbland was diagnosed earlier tbis year witb tbyroid cancer. Sbe was oper- ated on last montb. Walk extremely important Needless to say, after battling cancer twice, Iaugbland is extremely passion- ate about tbis year's walk, wbicb will take place September 8 to 10 in Toronto. "Having two cancers in one year bas been incredibly stressful, but baving tbis event to focus on, and the possibil- îty of belping find a cure one day, keeps me going," sbe said. Wbat makes tbe cause particularly important to bier is bier 1 6-year-old daugbter, Kelsi Debevec. "Kelsi bas an increased risk now, and I just canEt imagine bier going tbrougb tbis," said Laugbîand, wbo bas set a personal fundraising goal of $5,000. To sbow bier support, Kelsi, a stu- dent at Bi.sbop Reding Higb Scbooî, will be walking alongside bier mom in tbe event as part of tbeir team, 'For tbe Girls'. Tbe lO-member team bas pledged to raise $50,000. Kelsi said it's a way sbe cani sbow bier mom she cares. "Its a really bands-on way to beîp," sbe said. A number of Miltonians wiIl partici- pate in next montb's walk, joining tbousands of otber dedicated men and women taking part in tbe tbird annual event. It's no easy feat. In addition to tbe grueling pbysical aspect, wbicb requires montbs of training, eacb walk- er must commit to raising a minimum of $2,000. Participants bave different motiva- tions for taking part. The Milton Momns team îs made up of 10 local residents, including Joss Johns, Andree Markusicb and Deanna Sellars. For Jobns, iE's personal. "My motber died of bowel cancer, so I know wbat its like to locie someone you love wbo bas been taken aE far too young by cancer," sbe said. "I don'E want my cbiîdren or any otber cbildren to miss tbeir motbers as I do mine." Sbe added sbe believes every fundraising contribution is important, no matter bow small. "I takes many grains of sand to cre- ate a beacb." Unique fundraising Tbe teami bas comne up witb a num- ber of creative fundraisîng ideas, including standing outside tbe Loblaws store wearing oversized bras and asking for donations -to filI tbe cups," Sellars said. Sellars, wbo bas a two-year-old daugbter, said bier motber-in-law is cur- rently battling cancer and bier grandma is a cancer survivor. Sbe doesn't want bier daugbter to bave To struggle witb it as welî. Markusicb said sbe was initially bes- itant about joining tbe team, but is gîad sbe did. "Cancer is taking away people we love and enougb is enougb - tbis needs to stop." Tara Groves-Tayîor is on tbe '6 Strong' team, made up of women wbo've been friends for 15 years. The women decided to band togetber and participate after one of tbeir fniends - wbo's on tbe team - was diagnosed witb breast cancer. As tbe motber of two daugbters, Groves-Taylor said sbe fears for tbeir bealtb and wants to belp eradicate cati- cer. 'd love it if tbey neyer bad to know wbat breast cancer is," sbe said. For more information on tbe event, to participate in next year's walk or to make an on-line donation to any of tbe walkers, visit wwwendcancer.ca. Sephanie Thiecsen can be reached a( sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com. j GRAHAM PAINE / CANADIAN CHAMPION Kelsî Debevec (Ieft> and mother Kate Laughland wiIl he Iacîng up theîr runnîng shoes for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer September 8 to 10. ~7V OG C Co«,geco Cable Channel 14 Programming Schedule - Tuesday, August 29 -Monday4 September 4,2006 Trly LOCal lbOVISIO &:oh. -R9.iO. Piti i! DmIEXR s0m - Ripaau Plqgila! EXTRA -810m - lpu Pluma In! EXTRA 8:0arm- MldnghI PIumd'In EXTRA 8N0am -MiditltPlugedlIn! EXTRA 8:iOam - 6ipm PlilitnIn! ET 8:Mam - TMpulelaEXR 9:8o amMScu l 111M Aa 81Hll Coumail i R1pai Miltoni Canal SOlpai MiRfn Ciocil i M0pm MIRon Cooncil www.cogeco.ca gMm (iCI AMI; 14 (cc) TA1 4:Mpm - Mioight Plogged In! EXTRA :N1ipm -Midnighi Pluggla' n!EXTRA A:1illm- Midight Pluned lW! EXTRA NORTH HALTON STUDIO Mouga Pidl!' Emu Laurier Plaza 500 Laurier Avenue Mifton, ON L9T 4R3 905,878-93061