By Kath Gannaway
Sue Contarino tugged at her T-shirt with a clenched fist as she spoke in the emotion-charged final moments of the Walk With Me event for ovarian cancer on Sunday, 26 February.
“We don’t have to let this spread any more as a silent disease,” she said.
Women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer report four types of symptoms most frequently:
Abdominal or pelvic pain.
Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating.
Needing to urinate often or urgently.
Feeling full after eating a small amount.
That early detection is critical in the survival stakes of this cancer has been a key message of Sue’s campaign since being diagnosed and delivered a terminal diagnosis.
That message was reinforced by Ovarian Cancer Australia CEO, Jane Hill, who also spoke at the finish of the event at Warburton.
An estimated 500 men, women and children took part in the second annual event that set off from Lilydale station at 6am along the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail and the spirit of the event blossomed even in the darkness before first light, to the every end in glorious sunshine at Warburton.
Along the way people joined in, doing what they could, in support of Sue and her family, their own family members or friends touched by ovarian cancer, or just in the hope of increasing the goal of early diagnosis and a better survival rate through research.
Sue told Troy Jansen, a former student of Sue’s at Healesville High School, and later work colleague who filmed the event, that she was buzzing.
She said people had walked for a cause and for their belief in the event.
“We have people here who have just cruised it in, people who have found it quite challenging, a few with blisters on their feet, and one lady with a crooked knee who was just determined to cross our finish line,” she said.
“It was with the adrenalin from each other and filled with such faith, hope and love, we pulled each other across the line,” she said.
Ms Hill also thanked the walkers and volunteers, and Sue.
“We are so inspired by you people that at OCA we want to make teal the new pink,” she said in response to the sea of teal before her.
“It is inspiring to hear the stories of some of the people who have walked today, but mostly I want to thank Sue, she is the most inspirational woman, the most courageous woman, I think I have ever met.
“And I want to thank her husband Steven and daughter, Raina,” she said.
The families of women who have recently passed due to ovarian cancer, and those who have survived it were recognised in a special ceremony, which added to the already very real face that the Walk With Me event has unveiled.
An early figure of $60,000 was announced, but there was more to come, and the Mail will follow up with that final figure.
Ultimately, the vital message is around awareness of the symptoms and the need to act on those symptoms.
Ovarian Cancer Australia’s Symptom Diary is a valuable tool in monitoring symptoms which can be taken to a GP to assist with diagnosis.
Visit ovariancancer.net.au/signs-and-symptoms.
See more Walk With Me photos online at mailcommunity.com.au .
