Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 23/05) - Meryl Falconer remembers what it was like being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1985.

"I was at a loss because there was so little support for women with breast cancer," she said.

Terry Chang (right) presenting Meryl Falconer with the first Run for Our Lives Discovery Mining Humanitarian Award. The award is the original painting commissioned from Yellowknifer Bonny Madsen for the run. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Her personal experiences drove her to ensure other women in the North would be supported.

"When you've experienced something so strongly, it is almost an onus to pave the way for others," Falconer said.

Her work has been recognized. Falconer is the first recipient of the Run for Our Lives Discovery Mining Services Humanitarian Award.

The award honours a person who has contributed to breast health awareness, education and support in the North.

"Meryl has become our northern Florence Nightingale," said Terry Chang, the spokesperson for Run for Our Lives.

Falconer's work in the area of breast cancer has been extensive. Starting in 1988, as a volunteer, Falconer sought out women with breast cancer to provide them with information and support.

If there was a vacant seat on a committee with even the faintest connection to breast cancer, Falconer was in it, Chang said.

In the mid 1990s she was one of the four women who formed the Breast Cancer Action Group to look at the needs in the NWT. The group is still active today as the NWT Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action group.

In 1996 it was Falconer's personal story that inspired the return of Run for the Cure to Yellowknife. With only three weeks to organize the event, Falconer set the goal of 50 people and $1,000. Instead 250 people came and raised $15,000. The event has been growing ever since. Last year it raised $200,000.

Normally the humanitarian award would be presented at this year's Run for Our Lives, but Falconer is moving. After 36 years in the North she is retiring to Nanaimo, B.C., to be closer to her family.