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In quest of a cure

Krutko raises nearly $2,000 for breast cancer research

Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 05/01) - Evelyn Krutko outdid herself by raising $1,868 towards the Run for the Cure this year.

Krutko has taken part in the yearly breast cancer fundraiser for the past three years. She collected $500 in donations in her first year and increased her total to $750 in pledges last year.

NNSL Photo

Fort Providence's Evelyn Krutko, in the centre of the front row, is surrounded by family in Yellowknife Sunday. Krutko collected $1,868 on her own for the annual fundraiser. From front left: Joan Krutko, Evelyn and Kristin Richardson. From back left: Sandra Richardson, Shawn Paul and Edna Paul. - Darren Campbell/NNSL photo


Over the 10 days prior to this year's run, she kept surpassing the fundraising goals she set for herself. She gave credit to the people of Fort Providence who generously donated a significant share of the total.

Although her efforts were impressive, she was a long way from collecting the greatest sum. That honour went to a woman from Yellowknife who turned in $7,900 in donations, earning her a trip and luggage.

Krutko's motivation wasn't to win a prize, though. The incentive came four years ago while standing in her mother's hospital room. Although breast cancer ultimately claimed her mom's life, Krutko noticed people running by the window during that visit. She later found out they were in the Run for the Cure.

"Once I saw that, I decided I'm going to do this next year," she recalled. Ever since, she has been going to Yellowknife to follow through on that promise. She keeps her mother and a friend from Hay River, who was also diagnosed with breast cancer, in mind while on the course.

Last year the Run for the Cure raised more than $9.3 million nationwide for breast cancer research, education, diagnosis and treatment.

One in nine women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and one in 26 will die from the disease. It is the leading killer of women between the ages of 35 and 54.