Southeast Cancer Support Services is preparing for the first annual Walk for Hope, encouraging teams to sign up.
Cindi Rempel-Patrick with Southeast Cancer Support Services says that this event is designed for the communities in southeastern Manitoba.
“There's just so much to do and see. You can spend the whole day there, and it'll be an amazing community event. When I say community, I'm talking about the Southeastern Manitoba community.”
All registered team walkers will be able to enjoy breakfast and lunch at the walk.
Rempel-Patrick says that businesses are also getting involved, and corporate volunteers are appreciated.
The Southeast Event Centre has offered a prize for the first 10 teams to join. This prize is 4 free tickets to country night concert at the Southeast Event Center.
“We'd love to give 4 free tickets to the first 10 teams who sign up for this event, and you do that by going to our website SECancerSupport.ca, or you can call us at our Cancer Care office, or you can pick up a registration package.”
Corporate teams registered before July 19th will also receive extra social media promotion.
Rempel- Patrick encourages teams to get involved in the event.
“You bring your team, and you can have a theme, dress up, and do all that. You set a goal of how many kilometres your team wants to walk in total.”
Many groups will often base their goals on personal connections to the cause.
“People are choosing creative ways to set their goals. Like they'll say, you know, it took my mom so many kilometres to drive from Vita to her radiation treatment every day, and so we're going to say that's going to be our goal.”
Rempel-Patrick says that joining the walk provides direct help to people in the community.
“All the money that is raised goes directly into the pockets of people who live in all these 88 communities in southeast Manitoba. So when they need that extra driving money for the gas and to pay the parking at Health Sciences Center every day, for you know, weeks in a row. When they need that assistance, that's where this money goes.”
Rempel–Patrick says that the event is run by a passion for helping support the cancer journey, and everyone involved.
“It's passion for people who have experienced that cancer journey. So, we are walking in honour of people who have done the journey. In honour of people we may have lost. In honour of medical professionals who have cared for our loved ones, and for our caregivers. And for the whole family who is touched by cancer.”
"Walk for Hope" takes place on Saturday, September 20th at the AD Penner Park in Steinbach, where everyone is invited to join those on their cancer journey; those who are survivors and their families and friends.
The event starts at 9 am with a Community Breakfast, followed by a Survivors Lap with RCMP Honour Guard and Pipes. The event wraps up at 5 pm.