A family of five from Red Deer is working to raise awareness of the deadliest cancer for women — ovarian cancer.
Sandra Cadieux, her husband Joel, and their four children Noah, 10, Dallis, 8, Elijah, 6, and Davis, 4, will be participating in Edmonton’s Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope on Sunday.
They are walking in support of Sandra’s mother Vivian Chimilar, 61, of Red Deer who was diagnosed in December with stage 3C ovarian cancer, one step below stage 4 which is the most advanced stage.
Ovarian cancer is the most fatal women’s cancer and 2,600 women are diagnosed every year, according to Ovarian Cancer Canada.
Without an early detection test for the disease, and with signs and symptoms that can be vague and often misdiagnosed, ovarian cancer is often not found until late stages.
Sandra said ovarian cancer just does not get the attention of other diseases and she hopes money raised by the walk will improve the rate of early detection.
Ovarian cancer came as a surprise to her mother. It did not run in the family, she said.
As of Thursday, the family had raised a total of $2,870, mostly from generous family and friends, and the children’s bottle drives that brought in $700.
As part of her treatment, her mother had major surgery and will finish up her latest round of chemotherapy today.
“She’s just fought so courageously over the last eight months. This is just one small way we can show our support and love for her,” Sandra said.
To support the Cadieux Family Hope team, visit ovariancancerwalkofhope.ca.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com