Upper Yarra
7 Tuesday, 20 February, 2018
Yarra Glen community day
10
A Mail News Group publication
Mail Covering the Upper Yarra Region of the Yarra Ranges Shire
Historic anniversary
21-22
Best in local sport
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Walking with me By Kath Gannaway 'Walk with Me', Sue Contarino's open invitation after being diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer in 2013, was taken up by hundreds of people who did just that with the first walk in 2016. Sue died last May, just a few months after the 2017 walk in February which she bravely completed, scooting along - literally, with a trademark smile on her face. It was an emotional day, and this year's Walk With Me, on Sunday, 25 February, will be a tough one for those closest to her, none more so than her husband Steve and eight-year-old daughter Raina. The invitation stands, thanks to the dedication of family and friends. Steve said right up until the day before she passed Sue was adamant she wanted Walk With Me to continue. "As much as she could, she whispered into my ear 'everything is in place ... I've done all the work', she definitely wanted it to continue," he said as they prepare for the 42kilometre walk from Lilydale to Warburton along the rail trail. But it's not just about fulfilling a legacy, Sue didn't want the pain and tragedy of ovarian cancer to happen to anyone else. She was already in stage 3 when she was diagnosed in 2013. "If they could develop an early detection test, that would just about save every life; from what I understand, if you can get it at stage one or two, your chance of survival is really good," Steve said. Funds raised go to Ovarian Cancer Australia who support research, but importantly support women and families. "They were pivotal with us when Sue was first diagnosed," Steve said. "They gave us the right information, suggested trials, they support you with all sorts of things." While there is an unqualified resolve to fulfil Sue's wishes, there's also an acceptance among those working on the Walk that the past nine months has been a time of grieving, pain
Steve Contarino and daughter Raina with team member Karen Wellsford ahead of this Saturday''s Walk With Me. 177842 and dealing with getting on with life as best you can. So, there are no expectations of numbers and no target. "It's the same walk, but we've simplified it a little," said Steve who added that fundamentally, it's about creating a movement. "It's not always about the money raised, it's about creating a movement, about creating awareness," he said.
"It was a movement that brought such success for breast cancer. If you create a movement you are going to save lives and financially it will look after itself. "Walk wouldn't happen without the people who support it. It's not just me, and not just Sue, all the committee, all the volunteers, the people who continue to turn up and walk, it's everyone." Walk With Me 2018 will set off at 6am from
Picture: Kath Gannaway.
Lilydale Railway Station and participants can walk the full trail, or parts of it. What is important is that people register with a donation at www.walkwithme4oca. com. You can donate to teams or individuals, create your own team, or just make a donation as an individual. The motivation is important too ... "Noone should be diagnosed late, and no-one should lose their mum" - Steve Contarino.
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