Rick Stiebel/B次元官网网址 Gazette staff
Take a walk with others to help make Kathleen WardB次元官网网址檚 birthday wish come true.
Ward, a Victoria resident, is asking people to make a $60 donation in support of the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope, which takes place Sept. 10 at Royal Roads University. The amount of the donation is significant because in addition to marking her age, it underlines a selfless act of courage, inspiration and determination thatB次元官网网址檚 difficult to fathom.
Ward, an avid walker and self-described B次元官网网址済ranola eating, yoga doing, hiking and mountain biking woman,B次元官网网址� was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in August 2015.
B次元官网网址淐ancer was not a thing that was going to happen to me,B次元官网网址� she explained in a message she is sharing to help others dealing with the disease. B次元官网网址淚 was completely blown away.B次元官网网址� She underwent a hysterectomy and 18 rounds of chemotherapy and, because she firmly believes being active in the outdoors boosts mental health, went for a walk every day, no matter how poorly she felt.
After doctors told her in early 2016 that her cancer was in remission, Ward and her husband attacked her bucket list with a steely determination. They bought a RV and canoed the Yukon River and the Chilkoot Trail, a 53 kilometre trek through the Coast Mountains between Dyea, Alaska, and Bennett, B.C. Along the hike the Wards met a group of medical students who were studying immunology and ovarian cancer.
An ironic twist on the trail had the students telling Ward they had never met anyone with ovarian cancer, and Ward replying that she had never met anyone studying the disease. B次元官网网址淚 told those researchers to get back to university as soon as possible because they might just save my life one day,B次元官网网址� Ward recalled.
The Wards travelled to the Okanagan Valley last winter for their next adventure, 1,000 kilometres of cross-country skiing. B次元官网网址淭he endorphins from the fresh air and exercising with friends made me feel much better,B次元官网网址� Ward noted. B次元官网网址淚 started to hope that the cancer had been nothing more than a speed bump in my life.B次元官网网址�
Unfortunately, that mole hill turned into a mountain in March when WardB次元官网网址檚 doctors told her the cancer had metastasized to her lungs and liver. B次元官网网址淚t just totally floored me,B次元官网网址� she admitted.
It was around that time that Ward first heard about Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope and decided to get involved. B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檝e got lemons, you make lemonade,B次元官网网址� she said in a classic case of understatement. B次元官网网址淭he walk is a perfect match for my love of walking outdoors and my strong belief in the benefits of walking to help you feel better through cancer. So I thought I would set myself a challenge and try to help other people.B次元官网网址�
With her 60th birthday on the horizon, Ward formed a Walk of Hope Team aptly named KathleenB次元官网网址檚 $60 for 60 and set a goal of raising $10,000. It was difficult at first putting her story out there, she admitted, but decided it was an opportunity to create something positive from her diagnosis.
B次元官网网址淚 finally got the courage, found the B次元官网网址榣adyballs,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said and sent an email to family, friends and colleagues explaining what she was doing.
The response has been so amazing that Ward has already exceeded her original goal. B次元官网网址淭hat email is still making the rounds and I canB次元官网网址檛 believe how generous people have been, she noted. B次元官网网址淚 am truly grateful to those people whoB次元官网网址檝e donated and the many planning to join me on walk day.B次元官网网址�
In Canada, 2,800 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year, with 56 per cent of those not surviving past the five-year mark. The Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope directs all fundraising towards overcoming the disease.
Visit to register or donate and help make WardB次元官网网址檚 60th birthday a memorable one.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
