Community & Business
20 May, 2022
Taking huge steps for cancer research
TAKING on a walk over 1000km through the mountainous ranges of Europe, cancer survivor and advocate Jennifer Rooks will be doing it all to give back to cancer research.
Raising half of her goal so far with the Cancer Council, Ms Rooks has teamed up with the Mareeba Heritage Coffee House as well as the Mandala Café, Sprouts Café, Frogs Café, Riley’s Café, Butterfly Café, The Hungry Pug and Rainforestation to do a coffee fundraiser.
From every cup of coffee sold during a period of time, money will be returned to the Cancer Council to help Ms Rooks reach her goal of $10,000. In 2014, Ms Rooks took on her first walking fundraiser through Europe after watching many people she loved become effected with cancer. Trying to find ways to raise money for the Cancer Council, her sister came up with the adventurous and challenging idea.
“It started as a dare from my sister to walk across Ireland and I had never really walked before I had always used a car,” Ms Rooks said. “She said it was about 500 km and that she would come with me, so we went and raised money that way and over the last few years, we have been walking together some really long distances. Sometimes we go on our own though. “This year I am getting myself back into the Swiss Alps and it will go eight and a half weeks and go just over a thousand kilometres.”
Training up for the day, Ms Rooks is getting in her extra steps to ensure she is ready for the day, walking 40km round journeys where she can.
The Mareeba Heritage Coffee House will be helping raise funds through the coffee fundraiser, as well as having a donation jar at the venue.
To donate to Ms Rook’s cause, visit www. doitforcancer.com.au/fundraisers/jenniferrooks/ walking-to-rome
