Hope for a cure to breast cancer is in the research continued from p.14 Born in India and raised in Qatar, Sequeira and his family moved to Canada after he graduated from high school so he could attend university. When he learned his mother had cancer, he left the University of Toronto to be home with his family and didn't graduate. He eventually went back to school and earned his BA in computer programming and later earned his Masters in Business at Queen's University. "It was always on my mind that I wanted to do something to honour my mother and my aunt had been participating in the one for Princess Margaret for the previous three years in memory of her sister's death so I decided to join her this year for the 12th annual event," Sequeira said. He began training in June, starting by walking a little every day until he was up to seven or eight kilometres on the weekends. "I had never walked 25 kilometres before so I was a bit nervous but I managed to do it," he said. "At the end of the day I was okay but the next morning I could barely walk." The name of their team was Miriam-Julian because Julian Rego, who died from cancer, was Mariette's nephew. Sequiera has already signed up for next year's walk and expects his younger brother Aaron and their father, both of whom were out of town for this year's walk, will also participate. His girlfriend Avon, who joined the team on 15 | Thursday, October 29, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com You realize that for some people, their only hope is these clinical trials because the tried-and-true methods don't work for them and this takes a lot of work and a lot of research. Royston Sequeira Her death also affected his brother's life. He also quit college and went into music for a while but eventually returned to school and graduated from the University of Waterloo. With so many fundraising walks and millions of dollars raised every year, Sequeira, like many people, also wondered why cancer hasn't been beaten yet. "But you realize that for some people their only hope is these clinical trials because the tried-and-true methods don't work for them and this takes a lot of work and a lot of research," Sequeira said. "Princess Margaret is one of the top five cancer research centres in the world and all of the funds go directly to their much-needed research." the final leg of the walk, will likely participate as well in the entire event next year. Ironically, she is a cancer clinical trials researcher for a pharmaceutical company. "We didn't meet until just recently, but she would have been a great help to me had we been together when my mother was dealing with it," Sequiera said. "She's able to explain just how much work is involved in clinical trials and cancer research." Sequeira thought about his mother throughout the walk but especially when it came time for team members to write the names of their loved ones on a wall along the route. "My aunt was our team captain so she wrote my mother's name but it was a very emotional moment for everybody," Sequeira said. "While participating, you realize just how many people are affected by this disease. "You receive so much support." Prepare for winter weather Take care of trees now Call Storybook to assess your Trees Today 905-491-6860 PRICE OF ONE! Second Person FREE! Book Your Tour Today By Calling: 905-582-0395 3136 DUNDAS STREET WEST, OAKVILLE, ON (WEST OF BRONTE ROAD) Two Can Live for the MOVE IN LIMITED IME OFFER TBEFORE AND TH DEC15 ! AVAILABILITY & SAVE! ply *conditions ap *conditions apply www.palermovillageretirement.ca