This has been a difficult year. Our mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend Crystal ended her fight with ovarian cancer in October of 2023. Only a few months later, her husband, longtime team captain and heroic fundraiser extraordinaire, Daren, also passed on after his own battle with cancer.

Daren and Crystal were courageous and good-spirited until the very end. If there is one lesson that their lives have taught all of us, it is that you should never give up. Crystal’s Cancer Crushers are therefore returning this year, undaunted in their fight against this disease that has ravaged so many women and so many families in Canada and around the world.

Every woman who faces an ovarian cancer diagnosis has family, friends and community that face that diagnosis with them. At the Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope, those friends, family and community members come to together to show the world that we are stronger together, and that together we can make a difference.

Ovarian Cancer Canada hopes for a future without this disease. A future where other families, friends and communities won’t be torn apart by loss or the uncertainty and fear that comes from a cancer diagnosis.

Crystal and Daren were so fortunate to be able to count on such a remarkable community of friends and family members who supported them year after year as they raised money for the fight against ovarian cancer. We, their team, hope that we can continue to count on your support in our effort to raise money to provide support, increase awareness and fund research into treatment for the disease.

Every dollar raised by our team supports Ovarian Cancer Canada in its efforts to improve the lives of women with ovarian cancer. Please consider supporting our team and honouring the memories of Daren and Crystal. Their lives were an inspiration to everyone they met. Let us continue that legacy together.