Walking for her sister

 Nancy Dunlop endured all the pain and agony of the 40 mile walk for her sister and herself.

Published June 28, 2000 in the Parksville-Qualicum Morning Sun

There are many ways to raise money for a cause you believe in. None, however, may be as grueling this - or rewarding.
Such was the case when Nancy Dunlop, Parksville woman who works as a secretary in doctor's office, took on North America's toughest walk-a-thon.
Dunlop had thought about doing the 40-mile trek from Gold River Tahsis, but it wasn't until she felt obliged to help someone that she finally made the choice to compete.
"My younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer in January," said the soft-spoken Dunlop about her sister Darlene. "In this contest you get to raise funds for whatever charity you want. It was also a time in my life I felt like doing something physically challenging."
Dunlop took on the challenge on June 3, walking with more than 1,000 others - as young as 10 and as old as 73 - for the 23rd annual crossing of the rugged mountain trail.
Starting in darkness at 4 a.m., Dunlop completed the walk in 12 hours and 24 minutes on what turned out to be a very hot day. She collected $541 in pledges that went to Canadian Cancer Society research.
"My sister was thrilled about it when she found out I was doing it," said Dunlop, whose voice started to break up a bit as she fought back tears but remained composed. "We've talked a lot about this and we've cried a lot.
"She was with me during the walk-a-thon all the way," she continued, as tears began rolling from her eyes. "I still get really emotional when I think about all of it."
While she lost her composure during the interview, Dunlop had no problem maintaining it during her journey, despite painful blisters on her feet that began while she had than six hours left to leg out.
"It was an awesome feeling crossing that finish line," she said. "I couldn't even stand up after the race - I had friends to stand in line for me to get the T-shirt and plaque we receive for finishing the walk."
While medical attendants took care of the blisters on her feet, Dunlop sat and thought how amazed she was with herself.
"I thought this race was insanity when I first heard people would do this," she said. "Personally, I felt pretty confident going in, but to finish in that time ... they said 17 hours was the longest it took for anyone to finish. I thought it would be me."
She said the rewards for doing the walk were fantastic. "I'll never forget the beauty of the country," she said. "I will always remember the people I met, the friendships that were made, and the camaraderie between all of us, looking to complete the walk for our own reasons."
Overcome with emotion again, Dunlop said the response she got from people when she got back was overwhelming. "They were praising me for what I had done," she said. "I kept the pledges pretty quiet, didn't make it too known to anyone. But when people found out what I did, they were coming out of the woodwork, wanting to give me a pledge."
She says she would like to come back and try the event again next year, still glowing after what she had done.
"Initially, I took up the challenge for my sister," Dunlop said. "But it was an accomplishment for both of us. The goal was attained."