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| Last updated at 11:58 PM on 04/08/08 |
‘Sisters’ walking in memory of loved ones 
SARAH REGAN
The News
MELMERBY BEACH – At times, the rounds of chemotherapy felt endless to Carolyn MacDonald. But the love and support she received from her sister was everlasting.
Now, it's MacDonald's turn to repay her sister for being by her side during the worst year of her life as she fought to survive breast cancer.
"My sister was with me during my illness and she continues to be with me. Now she's an angel on my shoulder instead of a sister by my side."
MacDonald's sister, Linda MacPhee, passed away a year ago this month after losing her battle to ovarian cancer. She was 51 years old.
Jayne Kellock's sister, Debbie Malcolm, never once complained during her three-year battle with ovarian cancer. And even up to the very end Malcolm refused to admit she was dying.
"She never bothered anyone with her illness. She refused to say goodbye."
Malcolm passed away in 2006. She was only 56 years old.
MacDonald and Kellock were strangers that became friends after discovering they both shared a common truth – they both lost a sister to this disease.
The Pictou County women will walk in their sister's memory at the sixth annual Winners Walk of Hope taking place in Halifax Sept. 7.
Event coordinator Pat McDonald says as many as 500 participants turn out for the walk at Point Pleasant Park each year.
"It just goes to show how many people are affected by this disease," she says. In fact, as many as 1,700 women die every year from this disease.
McDonald, who is an ovarian cancer survivor herself, says the survival rate is as high as 90 per cent if detected early. The problem there is no reliable screening test for early dedication of ovarian cancer, says McDonald.
"That's why we need to have this walk so we can get more money for research. There is a lot of misconception out there. People think you can detect ovarian cancer through a pap test. That's not true."
Those who wish to join the walk can do so by going online at www.winnerswalkof hope.ca.
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05/08/08
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