Walk of Love takes another step
Family completes third memorial walk for mother
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, August 11, 2016
INUVIK
Five years after the last time, the Norwegians have completed another Walk of Love.
Pearl Norwegian, left, and Carol Norwegian trekked the Dempster Highway for five days in memory of their mother, Therese Remy-Sawyer (Norwegian) last week. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo
|
A total of 125 kilometres to Inuvik from Tsiigehtchic, Carol Norwegian and her family walked in memory of her mother, Therese Remy-Sawyer (Norwegian), who died in 2010 as a result of lung cancer.
"I guarantee you, the very first walk we did, she was definitely proud of us," said Norwegian, when the Drum caught up with her Aug. 4 on the Dempster Highway. "This year, she'd probably be even more proud. To keep this up and running, we've been pretty lucky."
This was the third time the family took to the road. The tradition began in 2006 when Remy-Sawyer wanted to commemorate her husband Claude Tom Sawyer, who had died after a battle with prostate cancer.
Norwegian said her mother hid her own cancer from her daughter for that first walk, wanting to finish the task before admitting that she was sick.
"When she passed, I said, I'm still doing the walk," Norwegian said. "My sister Pearl said she would take mom's place, and we did it in 2011."
Taking place every five years in August, the Walk Of Love has become something of a rallying cry for the whole family, beyond being a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society as well.
This year, the team had two vehicles to help them manage the trip, while Pearl and Carol walked for four days, arriving in Inuvik at around noon on Aug. 5.
"We had lots of vehicles stopping and giving donations," Norwegian said
"Lots of them didn't even ask what it was for, they just knew."
A motorcyclist from Virginia was one of the many donors who didn't even want a receipt. Norwegian said he rolled up, heard what the walk was all about, and forked over $50 right away.
"He took a picture with us and his bike," she said.
After raising $4,000 in the first trip and $8,000 in the second, Norwegian was aiming for $5,000 this time around.
"It's important for me to do this," she said. "To remember her and work towards a cure."
