Walk to make Cystic Fibrosis History returning to Estevan in May

ESTEVAN — The date is set, the route is chosen, and the registration is underway for 2023 Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis (CF) History in Estevan.

The ninth Estevan walk, raising funds for CF research as well as awareness about the disease, will take place May 28 at Woodlawn Regional Park.

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Canada website, CF is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults. At present, there is no cure. CF causes various effects on the body, but mainly affects the digestive system and lungs. The degree of cystic fibrosis severity differs from person to person, however, the persistence and ongoing infection in the lungs, with destruction of lungs and loss of lung function, will eventually lead to death in the majority of people with CF.

May is CF awareness month, and this year's theme is #FurtherForAll Canadians living with cystic fibrosis.

"This common goal that we have for going further for all is just meaning that our job isn't finished until all people with cystic fibrosis have access to treatment and advances in the latest research," said Estevan's CF walk organizer Kasey McIntyre, whose son Liam is living with CF. "We've come a long way, and there's been a lot of innovations along the way. But there's a lot to do yet. And we don't want to forget anyone. And the best way to do that is to register [for the walk], fundraise and donate."

Planning for the Estevan event, which will take place on the same day as other walks for CF across Canada, started in February and things are coming together well. Registrations were down from the previous year as of mid-April, and McIntyre said they hope to see more people joining come May once the weather becomes friendlier. While people can register at any time, signing up in advance helps the organizers.

"Knowing how many people are coming helps a lot with planning for what to do, so we can have their registration bags. When people register, they get a registration bag, full of various things from people around Estevan that have donated to registered participants. We know how many things to get for the raffle after the walk or for the barbecue even when everybody comes back after the walk," McIntyre said. "But I'm sure registrations will come in, it'll just take some time yet."

The walk will start at Rotary Hall at Woodlawn park (there is a $10 fee to enter the park). Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and breakfast will be served along the way. Opening ceremonies with speeches by walk organizers and dignitaries will be closer to 10 a.m. The walk will kick off at 10-10:30 a.m.
Participants will be offered an option to walk for two or four kilometres through park trails. Dogs on a leash are welcome on the day of the walk. The barbecue lunch donated by Clifton's No Frills will be served at no charge to participants after the walk. The closing ceremonies will be at about 1:30 p.m. McIntyre noted that they are hoping to also have some entertainment for kids for when they get back from the walk, like face painting and tattoos.

Registration is by donation with no set fee. Pledge forms are back, and people can download them as well as registration forms from the Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History Estevan Facebook page and collect pledges in advance. 

"They can go around and collect pledges, and that can be their way of getting funds as well. And once you register, you can put a link on Facebook, that you're donating, so people that don't live here locally, can also donate to you," McIntyre said.

May will also see a number of local CF fundraisers. Ron Dunville is to hold a bottle drive that will go until June 11. People can call or text 306-421-4353 to arrange for pickup or delivery. McIntyre's son Liam, with some of his friends and family members, plan for a city-wide lemonade stand, which they are hoping to do May 6. Team McIntyre Family and Friends are planning on holding a barbecue at the Southern Plains Co-op's grocery store in Estevan; the details haven't been finalized yet.

Watch for other fundraisers throughout May for the event and also let McIntyre know if you are hosting one. She can be contacted through Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis History Estevan Facebook page. To register for the walk, people can go to walk.cysticfibrosis.ca.