Women to walk for cancer research

Peel residents Christy Beard, Abbie Hothersall and Kelly Morrison have opted to wear joggers for a weekend to help raise much-needed funds for women’s cancer research.

The Weekend to End Women’s Cancer is a two-day, 60km walking event in March, to raise money for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.

Mrs Morrison, of Madora Bay, jumped at the chance to be involved after her friend, Mrs Beard, invited her to join in the fun.

Mrs Beard, of Safety Bay, started the team Breast Buddies, after she discovered her sister Nicole Hothersall was diagnosed with colon cancer while pregnant.

She said Nicole was forced to have surgery at 20 weeks and being such a rare case required an experienced team of medical practitioners to be on hand.

Thanks to the surgeons’ careful work, Nicole gave birth to a healthy baby girl last week.

In a bid to improve women’s cancer research and prevent future scenarios such as this, Mrs Beard invited Rockingham and Kwinana residents to an auction night on Saturday at the Safety Bay Yacht Club to help the Breast Buddies reach their target.

Mrs Hothersall, of Port Kennedy, said walk entrants had to raise $2000 each to attend the walk which they had been planning and training for over the past six months.

Mrs Hothersall said auction items included a sky dive, a rechargeable vacuum cleaner, a Nespresso machine and various vouchers from businesses in the area.

She said tickets were kept to a minimum cost thanks to the venue donation from Safety Bay Yacht Club. Tickets cost $20 each and include nibbles and drinks.

If people want to support the team, donate to the auction night or buy tickets, they can email abbie_ellise@hotmail.com.