On the trail to a cure

Saddling up her horse, Molly Hill remembers how close she came to losing her life.

It was just over a year ago the 63-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer, the most terrifying thing she has ever been through.

“Sure it’s scary for any woman, for the family,” she said. “I was worried about my horse, because if I died, who would look after my horse.”

Hill had a double mastectomy and is now remission. However, she did not want to stop the fight there.

She decided to join the Wild Pink Yonder 500 KM horseback trail ride. The 23-day event raises funds and awareness for breast cancer research.

“I’m riding for my two granddaughters and my great granddaughter, in hopes that something comes for them,” she added.

Jane Hurl, who started the ride in 2009, is also a survivor.

“Initially I thought I’d only do one year, but it was so successful I thought maybe I’ll do two,” she said. “Halfway through our second year my step daughter died from breast cancer. At that point you got to be pretty mad at breast cancer.”

It was then that finding a cure became her top priority, turning Wild Pink Yonder into an annual event.

The ride is hosted by 23 different municipalities across Alberta, each helping raise funds for the ride and getting their communities involved in the hopes to be named The Pinkest Little Town in the West.

“They are going above and beyond, I just love it,” added Hurl. “It just helps us so much, and when it helps us every single person that gets told ‘you have cancer.’”

If you would like more information on the fundraiser go to: Wild Pink Yonder.