Walk raises more than money

Make no mistake, it was no afternoon stroll down a country lane. But for 135 local women, it was a fun adventure - with huge rewards.
The past weekend's Cause for a Walk was a first for everyone involved. It was a first for the province.
The 135 women set out Friday, walking part way to Buffalo Pound Lake before shutting things down for the day and getting a ride to their destination for the evening. Saturday morning, they were transported back to where they left off to walk the second leg of the journey before shutting things down again for the night. And on Sunday, they triumphantly walked back to Moose Jaw, their journey over.
For those who took part, it was no doubt a weekend they will not soon forget. Women can bond quite well over good causes.
Organizer Diane Therrien and her crew would have made sure there was much to bond over, from good meals to good entertainment and good company.
A few blisters, joint and muscle pains aside, it was a journey of health - in more ways than one. The physical activity leading up to the walk - some women spent months preparing their bodies for the walk by exercising on a regular basis - and the walk itself were good for the body of each person involved.
But women's health all over this city will also benefit as these incredible women didn't do this just for themselves. They did it to raise money to purchase a special bed for the women's health unit at Union Hospital. A bed that will benefit many women who did not take part in the walk, some who made no contribution to the walk.
It was a selfless act by 135 women - and their training partners, their life partners and their families who helped make it possible.
And it was through the planning, organizing and leadership of Therrien who always makes fundraisers more about fun than work. She and her committee are to be applauded.