By JESSE GRAHAM
A YARRA Valley teacher living with ovarian cancer will take on the Warburton Trail at the end of the month, as part of a fund-raiser for cancer research.
Sue Contarino will be setting off from Lilydale Train Station at 6am on Sunday, 28 February, as part of an all-day walking fund-raiser to Warburton.
She told the Mail that she would walk the 39 kilometre trail to the end over the day, and was inviting residents to join her along the way.
“I’ve put it out there on Facebook, I’ve invited all of my friends and told them they could invite their friends,” she said.
Those taking part in the walk are asked to donate $20, and to come prepared for the day with good walking shoes, sunscreen, water, food and a mobile phone – as well as a lift home from Warburton.
“I’m hoping it’s epic,” Ms Contarino said.
“It might not be – it might just be five people, and I don’t care – but my aim is to raise awareness that it’s there.
The event coincides with Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in February, and all the money raised from the walk will go directly to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation in Melbourne.
Ms Contarino, who worked as a teacher at Healesville High School, was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer in November 2013.
After six months of treatment and eight months of good health, she experienced a reoccurrence of the cancer in April 2015 and underwent another six months of treatment.
Though the disease is terminal, Ms Contarino said she’s almost passed the “critical phase” since the reoccurrence, and that she wanted to help raise money for research in the hope that treatments and early screening tests may become more available for women.
Common symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal or pelvic pain, increased abdominal size or bloating, needing to urinate often and feeling full after eating a small amount.
Ms Contarino said walkers who are up for the challenge, should meet her at the Lilydale Train Station car park at 5.30am on Sunday, 28 February.
For more information about ovarian cancer, to donate or to purchase a teal ribbon, visit www.ovariancancer.net.au.
