Arctic Red River (May 22/06) - Carol Norwegian will be thinking of her deceased stepdad every step of a 125 kilometre walk-a-thon she's undertaking on June 5.

The walk-a-thon, entirely Norwegian's idea, is in honour of her step-dad Claude "Tom" Sawyer, who died from prostate cancer almost exactly five years ago.

Carol Norwegian of Tsiigehtchic is walking to Inuvik to raise money for cancer research. - Emily Watkins/NNSL photo

Carol's mom Terry Remy-Sawyer, a colon cancer survivor, will be walking some of the distance with Norwegian to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society, and to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

"A lot of older men don't want to go to the doctor for a prostate checkup," said Norwegian, a nursing student at Yellowknife's Aurora College.

The walk-a-thon starts at the ferry landing across the Mackenzie River from Tsiigehtchic and ends June 9 in Inuvik with a cookout celebration.

Tsiigehtchic is a crucial part of the event.

"My dad was originally from Ontario, but he made Tsiigehtchic his home," Norwegian said, who also calls the community home.

So much so that when he was dying in an Edmonton hospital, the Wish Foundation granted Sawyer his desire and paid to ship his casket "home" to be buried in Tsiigehtchic.

Norwegian plans to break down the walk into 25km chunks, dedicating them for different reasons. She is collecting pledges and exercising by repeatedly walking Yellowknife's Frame Lake Trail.

It's making for a busy life for this mother of five: Ann, 20; Shanta, 14; Mark, 12; John, 11; and Kevin, 9.

When she has time for herself, you'll find Norwegian crocheting blankets or walking.

"Walking is a regular thing that I do, even back home," she said.

And when she's at home, Tsiigehtchic sees her busy volunteering.

"What you put into it is what you'll get out of it."