Carol Norwegian knows the Dempster Highway well.

She and her family just completed their Walk of Love SA国际影视传媒� a journey they now make every five years, from their hometown of Tsiigehtchic 125 kilometres to Chief Jim Koe Park in Inuvik. This year they set out Aug. 1 and arrived Aug. 5 with the goal of raising $4,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and spreading awareness of the disease throughout the delta.

SA国际影视传媒淲e typically do it in five days,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e made a base camp at GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Park. What we did was we started off from Tsiigehtchic and walked that day, then at the end of the day marked off where we left off and started off again from there the next day.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 walking, I was following along in a ghost car.SA国际影视传媒�

This is the fourth time the Norwegians have made the journey for their loved ones. But this year was especially significant for Carol, age 55, as she passed the torch of leading the march against cancer to her daughter, Shanta. To raise funds for the CCS with a walk, at least one person must complete the entire journey. This year, that was Christina Ann Godin and Shanta Ansdell, who will lead the campaign going forward.

Keeping the family tradition alive is important, said Carol, as the Norwegians have had a difficult history with cancer, beginning with their stepfather Claude Sawyer who passed away May 20, 2001. ClaudeSA国际影视传媒檚 passing mobilized the family SA国际影视传媒� and in 2006 Carol and her mother Therese Remy-Sawyer, age 67 at the time, made the first journey from Tsiigehtchic to Inuvik. It would have been an impressive undertaking for anyone, but for Therese who was fighting lung cancer, it was truly a feat.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen we first did the initial walk, I calculated how long it would take me,SA国际影视传媒� Carol said. SA国际影视传媒淚 figured I could commit to doing 25 kilometres a day. At the end of this first walk, I decided I would do this every five years.

SA国际影视传媒淢y mom was very happy about that, so I committed to doing it. Unfortunately, she passed away before the second walk.SA国际影视传媒�

Four walks later, the journey is no less important. Therese passed away in 2010. Then CarolSA国际影视传媒檚 sister Lily succumbed to the disease on Nov. 4, 2019.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in the Northwest Territories SA国际影视传媒� the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 website states that between 2001 and 2010 an average of 111 new cases were diagnosed every year and one quarter of all deaths in that period SA国际影视传媒� an average of 45 a year SA国际影视传媒� were caused by cancers. The most frequent causes of death are lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer. They are also the most common cancers seen in the NWT. Norwegian said one family she knew in Tsiigehtchic had lost six people to cancer.

Norwegian said since the family began doing these walks every five years sheSA国际影视传媒檚 seen perspectives shift throughout the Beaufort Delta. Much of the stubbornness she saw towards getting diagnosed at first has faded and people are taking symptoms much more seriously.

However, awareness is only half the battle. Norwegian added the isolation of northern communities makes accessing a medical opinion about a potentially cancerous symptom very expensive and largely inaccessible to people.

SA国际影视传媒淚n Tsiigehtchic, the doctor comes once a month,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淥nce a week a nurse will come, depending on what. So itSA国际影视传媒檚 not as easy as you are feeling sick, so you get a check up.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淵ou donSA国际影视传媒檛 always get the same doctor. So being able to talk about cancer, ask questions and talk to your family and get feedback about what needs to be done.SA国际影视传媒�

So far, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 raised $1,439.10, or 35 per cent of her $4,000 goal, with the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council donating $1,000 and their Yellowknife office pitching in an addition $200 to the CCS and $300 towards gas. Norwegian said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 asked the CCS to keep her fundraising page open for an extended period of time so that people can pledge retroactively.

If you would like to support Carol and her family, visit to donate.