A former Orangeville resident is offering fresh hope to cancer victims by participating in The Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting Montreal's Jewish General Hospital. She will join thousands of dedicated women and men in Montreal August 26 and 27 in walking 60 kilometres over two days.

Kelly Stevenson graduated from Orangeville District Secondary School in 1999 and moved to Montreal to work. She often returns to town to visit her family, who still live in Orangeville.

Ms. Stevenson will raise considerable money and awareness by pounding the pavement and participating in this weekendlong event for the Jewish General Hospital's Segal Cancer Centre.

With one in nine Canadian women diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, participants have the opportunity to personally make a difference in the fight against breast cancer, and collectively, participants have an enormous impact on breast cancer research funding in the province.

Ms. Stevenson said she's joining the marathon walk because she believes that if we all contribute a little effort we can beat this disease that effects so many of our friends, our neighbours and our friends. She is doing this walk so that hopefully our children and their children will not have to face this disease, and also to pay tribute to those who have fought and survived and honour those we've lost.

For greater impact, she has set a personal fundraising goal of $2,000.

To help her reach this goal, visit www.endcancer. ca to make a donation online or call (514) 393-WALK (9255).

The Weekend to End Breast Cancer launches with opening ceremonies on Saturday morning, August 26, and finishes with closing ceremonies, Sunday, August 27.

Thousands of walkers will cover approximately 30 kilometres a day, traveling at their own pace. Walkers will be supported by some 500 volunteers and crew members who will provide meals, water and snack stops, gear transport, portable restrooms, safety on the streets, comprehensive medical services, and an overnight campsite complete with tents and hot showers.