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If the energetic fund-raising, the training, the camaraderie, the support for cancer sufferers and survivors, and simply the enthusiasm could be bottled, the inaugural Weekend to End Women's Cancers would have ensured the diseases were cured.

Thousands of women (and some men) were due to take to the streets of Perth last weekend, walking 60 kilometres over two days, to raise funds for research into women's cancers by the Harry Perkins Institute (formerly WA Institute of Medical Research).

The Weekend is a fund-raising event for the Institute that partners the spring Ride to Cure Cancer, a two day cycle from Perth to Pinjarra and return (which attracts mostly men).

Several teams of UWA employees took part in the walk, the physical effort of covering 60 kilometres matched by their zealous fund-raising over the previous few months, which included high teas and sausage sizzles.

For Julie Summers, a student in the School of Animal Biology, it was an affirmation of the strength and courage with which she fought a winning battle against an aggressive breast cancer, diagnosed 18 months ago.

"Some people still think cancer is a death sentence," Julie said. "But I met some wonderful people along the way and, like everyone else who has had their mortality challenged by a cancer diagnosis, I am grateful for every day I wake up.  It clarifies your outlook: you recognise what is important and you don't sweat the small stuff."

Julie continued her active lifestyle as well as she could during treatment (a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, then radiotherapy) including martial arts, swimming, yoga and touch rugby.

"What kept me going through chemo was that my rugby union club (ARKS, Armadale) announced that it was starting a women's team and I wanted to be fit to play for them.  I started my rugby pre-season training while I was still having radiotherapy."

She gave up her job as a nurse but continued to study. "The University has been very supportive, giving me special consideration when I needed it," Julie said.

"It's taken me about 12 months to feel well again. But my study has been my focus, my constant.  It was great having something like this to concentrate on."

See UWANews online later this month for photos and details of UWA staff taking part and how much money was raised.