Woman walks for research

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On June 1, the dream that began three years ago became a reality for Violet Franki-Martin when she started a walk that will take her 1,500 kilometres away from her home in the Northwest Territories.

Franki-Martin hopes to reach Lac Ste. Anne, Alta. for the annual pilgrimage, held this year from July 21 to 26. She'll be just one of more than 21,000 Aboriginal people that attend the spiritual event, but her journey is devoted to a particular mission.

"I'm walking to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. I've thought about it for the last three years and now I'm finally doing it," said Franki-Martin. "I found that a lot of our Elders and people were dying of cancer. I have a soft heart. I really felt sad for the people who were diagnosed with cancer," she said.

The sky was overcast, but the light drizzle that was falling could not dampen the mood of the more than 60 people that came out to wish the 37-year-old Franki-Martin a good journey. Bishop Denis Croteau of the Roman Catholic Diocese of the MacKenzie, and a number of Aboriginal Elders, prayed with the crowd for Franki-Martin's walk.

"The human spirit is really an amazing thing," said Bishop Crouteau. "One day a mountain climber was asked, 'why do you climb that mountain, risking your life and everything?' He said 'Well, because it is there, it needs to be climbed.' People do in fact do extraordinary things. I pray for the blessing of a warm sun, but not scorching, and I pray for the blessing of fresh drinking water after miles of walking for you, Violet," he said.

When her grandfather died of cancer in October 2000, Franki-Martin decided to finally do this walk.

"I felt like he approved what I was going to do," said Franki-Martin. "I'm walking to Lac Ste. Anne because he loved going there each year," she said.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society one in three Canadians will develop some form of cancer in his or her lifetime.

About 134,000 new cases of cancer will be detected in 2001 and 65,300 people will die from the disease.

"I know that Violet has the strength to do it," said Arlene Yacuyko of the society. "I support her as much as I can," she said.

Franki-Martin, who is the mother of 10 children, will be accompanied by her children, Brent, 10, and Beverly, 13, her cousin Peter Husky and two of her sisters, who will be the van drivers.

"If people want to join us while we are on the road, they are welcome to," said Franki-Martin. "We need all the support we can get."

Franki Martin said having her family support her decision has made the walk possible.

"My family is very supportive. They were surprised when I told them, but now they are 100 per cent behind me," she said. "My husband works in one of the mines. He usually works for two weeks in and for two weeks out. He will help take care of the kids when he gets back to Yellowknife. He even bought me a van for me to use on my walk," she said.