Hundreds walk in 8th annual ovarian cancer walk of hope

Hundreds of people came together in Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park, Sunday morning for the 8th annual Ovarian Cancer Walk Of Hope.

Held every year on the second Sunday in September, the walk raises money and awareness for ovarian cancer research and support programs.

Organizers say raising funds for research is crucial because there is no early detection for ovarian cancer.

“We can’t find (ovarian) cancer before it has already spread and grown. 70 percent of all the women diagnosed will die within five years. We want to find early detection, that’s what we’re raising money for, for the research so we can help extend women’s lives,” says Laura Johnston with the Edmonton walk of hope.

The walk of hope is the largest one day event in the country that raises money solely for ovarian cancer.

“A participant just dropped off $11,000 that she raised in one and a half weeks,” Johnston says adding “We were really, really surprised when we got that here today. That’s the biggest donation from an individual that we’ve ever seen.”

People from 47 communities across Canada participated in the walk, Sunday.