By JESSE GRAHAM
A TEACHER’S walk down the Warburton Trail to raise money for ovarian cancer research has raised more than $10,000, after masses of friends and residents came out in support.
At 6am on Sunday, 28 February, Sue Contarino set off from the Lilydale Train Station on an all-day walk down the Warburton Trail.
When she arrived to begin the 39-kilometre trek, Ms Contarino was met with about 80 friends and supporters, who joined in – some staying for stages of the walk, others following the entire way through.
“It was unbelievable,” she said.
“From the original five, estimated, family and maybe 10 friends, it just blew out to way beyond expectation.”
More walkers joined Ms Contarino on the walk, organised to raise money and awareness for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, at Mount Evelyn’s Cog Bike Cafe, which opened early for the event.
By the time the walk ended later that day, Ms Contarino said about 150 people had walked with her at some point.
She said the end of the day, as they came into Warburton, was an “emotional” experience, accompanied by her husband and daughter.
Healesville High School co-workers, Nic Skewes and Gayle Shelley, joined the walk, as well as Wonga Park Primary School principal, Julie Crawford, who raised $1000 for the campaign.
That donation alone doubled the original fund-raising goal of $500 – but with donations of $400 from the high school, $2500 from a pharmacy and numerous individual donations, the event raised about $11,500 for the foundation.
Ms Contarino said she would be meeting with the CEO of the foundation this week, to personally hand over the cheques and donated money, and confirmed another walk would take place in February next year.
She told the Mail that she was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer in November 2013 – after six months of treatment, and eight months of good health, she experienced a reoccurrence in April 2015, and underwent another six months of treatment.
Though the disease is terminal, Ms Contarino said she’d almost passed the “critical phase” since the reoccurrence, and that she wanted to help raise money for research in the hope that treatments and early screening tests may become more available for women.
She attributed her success in walking the trail to “prior preparation”, such as taping her feet and preparing snacks and drinks to keep her hydrated – as well as the camaraderie between the walkers.
“It was just fabulous – I couldn’t have asked for a better turnout,” she said.
To donate to next year’s fund-raiser, visit: ovariancancer.secure.force.com/Fundraise/fundraising/WalkwithMe
