Woman makes 1,500-kilometre trek
Phil Duffy
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (May 09/01) - Violet Franki-Martin is walking from Yellowknife to Lac Ste. Anne in northern Alberta to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society as a special tribute to her recently departed grandfather.
On June 1 of this year Violet will begin her monumental 1,500-kilometre trek by walking down Franklin Avenue. After walking eight hours a day, she expects to reach the Alberta community by July 26.
"All I have to do is pray and walk, pray and walk, remember my grandfather, and we'll get there," said Franki-Martin.
Her two youngest children, Beverly, 13, and Brent, 10, plan to accompany her for much of the way on foot. Her other eight children will remain at home in Ndilo where the two oldest will be babysitting.
Following along in a brand new van and tent trailer purchased by her supportive husband, Johnny Martin, will be her two sisters Phoebe-Ann and Kathy-Ann Franki, and her cousin Peter Husky.
"I had been thinking about doing something like this to raise money to fight cancer for the last three years."
She finally made up her mind to do this walk Nov. 15, 2000, she said. "(My) grandfather's birthday, just over a month after he died of cancer."
"Not just in the North, or in Canada, but all over the world -- from little babies to the elderly -- people are dying from cancer. I want to do what I can to help fight this," she said.
Diavik sponsorship
Her grandfather, Dogrib elder Nick Black, was widely known and respected in communities throughout the Northwest Territories as a strong spiritual leader and a gifted craftsman.
"Our history with Nick Black goes back several years, and when his eldest granddaughter Violet came to us and said she wanted to do this walk in his memory to support cancer research, we supported her whole-heartedly," said Tom Hoefer, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for Diavik Diamond Mines.
Diavik, so far, is the main sponsor for this journey of love, donating $2,000. Other sponsors include Body Works Training and Rehab Centre, Weaver & Devore Trading, the staff of the Salvation Army and the Canadian Cancer Society.
"Violet is in charge, it's her mission. I have been helping her out with the secretarial aspect and encouraging and supporting her in any way I can," said Arlene Yacuyko of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Franki-Martin is preparing for her arduous undertaking physically as well as spiritually.
"I have been training by walking and exercising and will continue to do this right up until I leave."
Anyone wishing to make a contribution in support of Franki-Martin's journey may do so by contacting Arlene Yacuyko at the Canadian Cancer Society.
