A day at York in support of the Weekend to End Breast Cancer

One in nine Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. During the weekend of Sept. 9-11, thousands of men and women in Toronto will unite to walk 60 km to honour lives lost and to celebrate survivors of breast cancer. Known as the “Weekend to End Breast Cancer”, this annual pilgrimage has raised millions in support of research into the causes, treatments and eventual cure.

Right: York’s Vandoos will walk again on the Weekend to End Breast Cancer, Sept. 9-11

Returning to this year’s walk are York’s own Vandoos. Dubbed the “Victorious Vandoos”, the team walked last year and raised over $90,000, placing it among the top 10 teams for fundraising. (See the Sept. 20, 2004 issue of YFile.)

Today, the Vandoos are colouring the Keele campus pink as they raise funds that will be donated to Toronto’s Princess Margaret Hospital’s breast cancer research and treatment programs.

Facts about Breast Cancer in Canada In 2005, an estimated 21,600 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,300 will die of it. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canadian women, accounting for an estimated 30 per cent of all cancer cases. Breast cancer produces the second highest rate of cancer deaths among Canadian women, after lung cancer.  Over 99 per cent of breast cancer is found in women. An estimated 150 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and 45 will die from it. One in nine Canadian women will develop breast cancer at some point during her lifetime. *Source: The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

Vanier College is sponsoring today’s breast cancer awareness day. Carole Carpenter, master of Vanier College and captain of the Vandoos, along with her 17 teammates are asking each member of the York community to contribute a loonie to the cause.

“The Vandoos are named after the famous Royal 22nd Regiment of Canada’s Armed Forces which was commanded by General Georges Vanier for whom Vanier College is named,” explains Carpenter. “Members of our team and a large number of student volunteers will be stationed throughout the Keele campus to accept donations and to sell a variety of breast cancer-related fundraiser items. It is my hope that everyone at York will give at least one loonie to the cause which affects so many women and an increasing number of men.”

The Weekend to End Breast Cancer is a life-changing adventure, says Carpenter. During one weekend every year, participants walk from Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto to Downsview Park in North York and back again. Each has raised funds which in turn go to benefit Princess Margaret Hospital, a leader in the fight against breast cancer. Net proceeds support ground-breaking research, with a goal of moving closer to a future without breast cancer.

For more information on the Vandoos, contact Carole Carpenter at ext. 44084, or carolec@yorku.ca. It is possible to donate to the York team online by visiting the Weekend to End Breast Cancer Web site and clicking on Toronto 2005; the Vandoos can be found by scrolling through the alphabetical list of teams. Click on the Vandoos link to view the team’s Web page. All donations of $10 or more qualify for a tax receipt.