York Security Services officers April Nietzschmann, Kelly Young and Dana Lacarte-Maule will hold a yard sale and silent auction tomorrow to help fund their step-by-step efforts to fight women’s cancers.
The trio recently formed the York’s Angels team with a goal of raising enough funds to participate in the Toronto version of the Weekend to End Women's Cancers walk Sept. 11 and 12 (see YFile, July 19). They’re hoping the University community will come out and support their fundraiser. The sale happens Wednesday, Aug. 11, from 10am to 4pm, rain or shine, on the Campus Walk near the William Small Centre on York’s Keele campus.
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| Above: Participants in Edmonton's Weekend to End Women's Cancers walk, which took place Aug. 8 & 9 |
Nietzschmann, Young and Lacarte-Maule have collected an eclectic assortment of items for the sale and auction, but would welcome more donations for both events. "We are really working hard to raise money so that we can walk with others to help raise awareness and funds to support research into the causes of these cancers," said Young. "Any monetary contributions to our fundraiser would be gratefully received!"
Most of these kinds of cancers, which include breast, ovarian, cervical and uterine cancers, are silent killers and by the time many are discovered, it is often too late.
Treasures available in the yard sale include a digital camera, men's watch, iPod, flash drives, household items and more. The silent auction features an assortment of items donated by vendors in York Lanes and the Student Centre. The trio will also be accepting monetary donations.
“Cancer is something that has touched the lives of many employees and their family members,” said Lacarte-Maule. “All proceeds that we raise will go directly to the charity for research into these cancers.”
Nietzschmann, Young and Lacarte-Maule must each raise $2,000 to participate in the 60-kilometre weekend walk that raises money for research into women’s cancers. On Saturday, Sept. 11, they hope to walk the first 30-kilometre leg of the two-day trek that will take them from downtown Toronto to an overnight camp at Downsview Park. After a night’s rest, the trio, along with thousands of other walkers, will return to downtown Toronto.
All monies raised by the walkers go to benefit the Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute at Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital.
“This event is the first of its kind for York Security Services staff,” said Lacarte-Maule. “Each of us has been affected in some way by these devastating cancers and we decided to organize the sale to raise funds so that we could participate in the walk as a team. We have a long way to go to raise the $2,000 that we each require to participate in the walk. We have just a month to go before the walk!”
The trio feels their involvement in the charity is important as it takes them out of their security role and into the community. "University community members really only see us in our official roles," Nietzschmann said. "This event is fun, meaningful and shows us in a new role. It is important as everyone has lost someone important or knows of someone struggling with one of these cancers. It affects everyone."
Last year, more than 4,000 participants raised $11.6 million in the 2009 Weekend to End Breast Cancer. In 2010, as a reflection of its new mandate, the event's name was changed to the Weekend to End Women's Cancers benefiting the Princess Margaret Hospital.
For more information on York's Angels, contact April Nietzschmann at apriln@yorku.ca, Kelly Young at kellyy@yorku.ca or Dana Lacarte-Maule at dlacarte@yorku.ca.
It is possible to donate to the York team online by visiting the Weekend to End Women's Cancers Web site and clicking on donate, or you can visit the York's Angels Web page. All donations of $10 or more qualify for a tax receipt.
On Aug. 8 & 9, walkers in Edmonton's Weekend to End Women's Cancers raised more than $1.8 million for cancer research, screening initiatives and patient programs that will not only benefit those suffering from breast cancer, but all women’s cancers.