When Rose Evan participates in the Mississauga Marathon on Mother’s Day, she’ll be thinking of one thing: her best friend Tracy.

“I’m going to do the half marathon to raise funds for the cancer society, with my main focus this year being my best friend,” she said.

This past Christmas Evans was disheartened to learn that her friend of almost three decades had been diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer called triple negative breast cancer. As Tracy undergoes chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Evans has decided to fundraise for the Canadian Cancer Society in the name of her friend.  

For the past three years, Evans has helped co-ordinate the annual Golf Fore the Cure. And while being a part of an event that directs its proceeds to the Canadian Cancer Society for breast cancer research has always been extremely fulfilling to the 47-year-old mother of two, this year Evans is taking her fundraising abilities to another level. Golf Fore the Cure is being held on June 13 at Deerhurst Lakeside Golf Course, which gives Evans plenty of time to collect pledges for the event. But with just a few weeks before she participates in the marathon, she is hoping that the community will reach out and donate to her cause. Petticoats on Main Street is helping Evans out by putting an eight-foot bra on display in the store as well as agreeing to collect pledges for her.

“Running is something I love and running is something I can do,” stated Evans, adding that her mother died from cancer nine years ago. “And considering (the marathon) is on Mother’s Day, it’s even more meaningful to me. It’s very hard to see someone you care about going through it. You feel so hopeless. You don’t know what you can and can’t do. But this is something I can do.”

While Evans got involved in Golf Fore the Cure through event co-oridnator Jody Cecile, she started running half-marathons when she turned 40. Considering the age a milestone, Evans said she was seeking a challenge when she decided to participate in her first half-marathon in Ottawa, which she successfully completed.

With more prizes and with Megan McLeod of Chestnut Park Real Estate as the platinum sponsor, the event promises to be bigger and better than ever. Evans will be collecting pledges for Golf Fore the Cure until the date of the tournament.  

A long-time supporter of the Terry Fox Run as well, Evans is the event’s food organizer and over the years she has earned the nickname ‘barbecue queen’ at the run.  

“When I turn 50, I might have to do a full marathon. No matter how much it hurts on that day (of the Mississauga Marathon), what’s going to get me through it will be thinking that I’m doing this for Tracy.”

With no specific goal in terms of the amount she wants to raise, Evans believes that whatever she is able to contribute to the Canadian Cancer Society will make her happy. In the last couple of days, she has already managed to collect $180.

“This community is always incredible when it comes to things like this,” she said. “This is one extra step I can make to help raise some money and awareness.”

To make a pledge call Rose Evans at 789-5577. Pledge forms are also available at the Huntsville Forester.