The inaugural Walk4BrainCancer wheatbelt event, was held in Northam on Sunday and raised over $6,610 for the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.
Event organiser Rebekah Burges said she wanted to walk in honour of her sister Debbie Keefe Duncan, who lost her life to the disease in February this year.
“Debbie was a resident of Northam and worked at the Westpac bank on Fitzgerald street for over a decade,” Rebekah said.
“Debbie was also the president and co-founder of the Northam mixed martial arts club (ECMMA).
“Debbie’s Westpac co-workers and the ECMMA club were out in force on Sunday remembering their friend and colleague.”
About 65 people participated in the event and walked two laps of the Northam river pool circuit, a total of 4.4km, to raise funds for Australia’s leading brain cancer research foundation.
Rebekah said more awareness needs to be raised about brain cancer.
“It receives very little funding compared to other cancers and yet it kills more children in Australia than any other disease,” Rebekah said.
“It has an extremely high mortality rate and it costs more per patient than any other cancer.
“We don’t know what causes it or how to cure it.”
Rebekah said local businesses helped make the event more enjoyable.
“Through sponsorship from local businesses, Clackline Valley Olives, Dave’s Property Improvements, TMR Consulting Services, Coles Northam and Woolworths Northam, we were able to provide a free sausage sizzle for all participants, who stayed after the walk and enjoyed the sunshine in Bernard Park,” Rebekah said.
Walk4BrainCancer is the biggest mobilisation of the brain cancer community, taking place across Australia from September to December every year.
The mission of the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation is to increase five-year survival from 20% to 50% by 2023.
Rebekah said donations can still be made by visiting the event website: https://www.walk4braincancer.com.au/events/86/w4bc-wheatbelt-2017.
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
