Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Apr 28/99) - Expect a knock on your door sometime over the next three weeks.

More than 100 volunteers have started hitting the streets of Yellowknife to raise money for cancer research.

Door-to-door campaign manager, Kevin Hodgins, is a cancer survivor himself. Diagnosed with testicular cancer more than two years ago, Hodgins has experienced the benefits of cancer research first-hand.

"The fact that I've been a recipient of cancer treatment and care provides me with enough interest to work towards making the fund- raising campaign a success," Hodgins said.

"Up until three years ago, I didn't know much about cancer. When I was diagnosed, I learned a lot very quickly.

Yellowknife has been divided into 17 zones and each zone has five to seven campaigners. Hodgins said pretty well every door in Yellowknife is on the list. Last year's campaign raised $20,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, NWT district unit.

"Every year, we see more and more of those diagnosed with cancer being cured. Raising funds for research is one of the reasons why," Hodgins said.

"Many people are contributing time to make this work and I'd like to extend thanks to those involved and those who make donations."

NWT district unit program co-ordinator, Rosella Stoesz, said about 50 per cent of the money raised locally goes to cancer research projects. The rest is donated to support programs in the division where the money was collected.

"I think it's fair to say that we've all been touched by cancer in some way or another. To add an element of hope, it's not just depressing news. There's been a lot of changes in the way cancer is treated, there's more survivors and issues of prevention are coming to the forefront," Stoesz said.

"As far as where the money from fund-raisers go, whatever doesn't get allocated to research is used to broaden the network of trained volunteers, public education activities, and support services for people living with cancer."

The campaign still needs volunteers so if you can spare a couple of evenings, call the Cancer Society office in Yellowknife.