Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 19/00) - "Once I recovered from my ordeal I developed a strong feeling within me to help other women who were in my position."

Those are the words of Yellowknife resident Meryl Falconer, recipient of the NWT 2000 Organizational Volunteer Award.

Meryl Falconer: Very honoured with award.

In 1985 Falconer was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a time when information and education about the incurable disease was virtually unknown in the Northwest Territories.

It was even more difficult to obtain adequate support for women who had received this diagnosis.

When Falconer realized this, she knew that something had to be done.

Once she had recovered from her own personal battle with breast cancer, Falconer took action.

"Your life becomes in turmoil when you are given a diagnosis that is life threatening, and on top of that, you have less information available."

"I had a strong feeling within me to help to bring information to the forefront for women who may go through the same situation I found myself in," she said.

In 1995, Falconer and three other women formed the Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group.

After obtaining government funding from Breast Cancer InfoLink, the four founding members interviewed 16 women within the Northwest Territories who had been diagnosed with the disease.

The purpose was to gather information on their education and support needs prior to, during and after their initial diagnosis.

As a result, a report entitled Breast Cancer in the NWT was published in 1997.

Throughout the next year the action group membership steadily increased and an advisory panel was eventually formed.

Together, both groups gathered those with breast cancer, women at high risk for breast cancer, individuals and groups with an interest in breast health/breast cancer issues and health care professionals.

Funding provided from Health Canada and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation allowed the group to employ a part-time co-ordinator and facilitator to aid in the development of the program.

The current goals of the Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group are to develop community awareness of breast cancer and breast health throughout the NWT; provide education on early detection of breast cancer; encourage women to be responsible for their own breast health; and to develop a partnership with health professionals to develop programs that educate and support women on breast cancer and breast health.

The many years Falconer spent raising awareness about breast cancer in the NWT, combined with her active involvement in the annual Run for the Cure breast cancer fund-raising event, is the reason she was chosen as one of the recipients of the Outstanding Organizational Volunteer of the Year award.

Falconer said she was surprised to be chosen as the recipient of this award, but is very grateful.

"I didn't expect to be nominated for this award ... but I'm very honoured."