Yellowknifers choose cancer prevention over fundraising

A fundraiser for breast cancer awareness is taking on a new twist in Yellowknife tonight.

The CIBC Run for Our Lives event is held in many communities across the territory every year. The annual event helped the Stanton Territorial Hospital purchase a digital mammography machine 4 years ago.

This year, organizers in Yellowknife are holding off from raising money.

"Let's take a break from the fundraising and take a look at the other side of what we can do, which is really to take our health into our own hands, says Rebecca Alty, whos with the hospital's foundation.

Tonights first ever breast health event will bring people together to learn more about cancer prevention.

There arerisk factors that you cant change, like your genetics, says Alty, but through exercise and food and your beauty products, there areways to reduce your chances of breast cancer and really to strengthen your immune system.

Lorie Crawford, a holistic nutritionist, will be there offering her advice.

"Research is coming forward that the richer our diet is in beta carotene, we are less likely to develop breast cancer, Crawford says. So when you think of beta carotene you're thinking of carrots, sweet potatoes, any of your oranges, any of your yellows."

Fibre is also important to a healthy diet. Crawford sayswomen need 40 grams of fibre per day and should be having two to three bowel movements a day, becauseconstipation is linked to cancers.

Jill Peterson, an esthetician at Sugar Baby Esthetics in Yellowknife will do a session on healthy skin care products.

She says people should avoid products with: Parabens, fragrance, artificial colours, petroleum distillates, pthalates, dBP, toluene, DEA, MEA, TEA and cylomethicones/siloxanes.

Courtney McKiel will do a yoga session and discuss the role of stress relief in cancer prevention.

Organizers hope to bring the breast health event to Hay River, Norman Well and Fort Simpson in the coming years.

The event takes place tonight at the Explorer Hotel. Tickets are $20.