The Leschenault Legends are a group of women and men in the South West who have come together and created a team for the Hawaiian Walk for Women’s Cancer on Saturday, May 6.
All funds raised will go to the state’s leading adult medical research Institute, the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, which is focused on find new treatments for hard to treat cancers, particularly triple negative breast and ovarian cancer.
After seeing an advertisement, Leisa Clark decided she would take on the challenge to walk in honour of her friend, and fellow Bunbury local, Shevaun Bertelli, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012.
At just 20 years old, Shevaun’s life was changed forever when a simple operation to have a cyst removed from her ovaries, led to the discovery of an ovarian tumour.
“I was incredibly lucky,” Ms Bertelli said. “I didn’t have to do any forms of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as the cancer cells had not spread to any other area in my body”.
Ovarian cancer does not yet have an early detection test, which means that the one in every 70 women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, have a very poor prognosis.
Ms Bertelli said if it wasn’t for pure luck, her early detection may not have happened.
“We are taking part in the walk to show our support for the many women in our lives who have been touched by these diseases and seek a future where they are no longer a threat to our nieces, daughters, grand-daughters and friends” Ms Clark said.
The Leschenault Legends have raised over $20,000 for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in just over a month and they’re not stopping.
All members of the Leschenault Legends, from Bunbury, Australind, Leschenault, and other close by areas, are extremely passionate about supporting vital medical research into women’s cancer that takes place at the Perkins.
The Hawaiian Walk for Women’s Cancer is a 30km or 42km walk in Perth.
If you would like to walk in support of women’s cancer research, you can register at walkforwomenscancer.org.au or contact Cate on 6151 0818 or walk@perkins.org.au.
