Couple walk to help end cancers

Leanne Russo has conquered one of the toughest journeys of her life.

So as she and her husband Gary crossed the finish line of the Weekend to End Women's Cancers in Victoria Park yesterday, their reason for trekking 60km over two days to raise funds for research into women's cancers was not far from their minds.

Mrs Russo, 34, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer in May. "My oncologist told me that five years ago they hadn't developed a chemotherapy drug that could treat my type of cancer so my survival would not have looked as good then," Mrs Russo, who was given the all-clear late last year, said.

"That's one of the reasons why I did the walk, because at that point I've realised just how important research is for people like me."

The Russos were among more than 800 people who took part in the event that raised more than $2.2 million for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.

The institute's medical research director, Professor Peter Leedman, said the event was a huge success.

"This is the first time this walk has been held and we were thrilled with the number of people who took part," he said.

For more information, visit www.endcancer.org.au .