Feeding hope’s flame

Sisters support annual walk event on mom’s behalf

By: Tiago Resko Posted: 5:30 PM CDT Monday, Sep. 7, 2026 Last Modified: 7:42 PM CDT Monday, Sep. 7, 2026 | Updates

When Christa Slatnik and Cindy Sanchez lost their mother to ovarian cancer in 2000, it was devastating.

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When Christa Slatnik and Cindy Sanchez lost their mother to ovarian cancer in 2000, it was devastating.

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When Christa Slatnik and Cindy Sanchez lost their mother to ovarian cancer in 2000, it was devastating.

But when the twin sisters got the opportunity to volunteer for Winnipeg’s first-ever Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope in 2004, it allowed them to honour their mother and continue her legacy.

“Although losing her was the hardest thing we’ve ever gone through, especially when we were only 23 years old, to try to take such a negative thing and turn it around and help other people makes her loss feel like it’s improving the world by increasing awareness,” said Slatnik.

SUPPLIED
Christa Slatnik, left, and Cindy Sanchez are twin sisters who have organized the Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope the last 23 years. — SUPPLIED

Christa Slatnik, left, and Cindy Sanchez are twin sisters who have organized the Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope the last 23 years.

The walk of hope on Sept. 27 will mark 22 years of the sisters volunteering with Ovarian Cancer Canada to bring the walk of hope to Winnipeg.

They were first asked to join the volunteer committee when Ovarian Cancer Canada came to Winnipeg in 2004, after starting the walk of hope in Toronto in 2002.

The sisters’ mom was a nurse for more than 30 years and ovarian cancer’s vague symptoms went unnoticed in her until it was too late.

At the time, their mother’s colleague was also having trouble identifying all her symptoms, which further delayed the diagnosis.

She died just after the twins graduated from nursing school, two years after being first diagnosed. Once they entered their careers, they quickly noticed the same pattern in other women.

“As we started working with women affected by ovarian cancer, we started to see this same story over and over again, which is another reason why we wanted to volunteer, because something had to be done to drive change,” Sanchez said.

While there are more treatment and testing options now, the survival rate for ovarian cancer has remained unchanged for 30 years and more than 50 per cent of women die after five years, said Slatnik.

Genetic testing is crucial to receive an early diagnosis and shedding light on these facts is an extremely rewarding part of organizing the walk every year.

When they first started, they said going from nursing to organizing an event was a big step out of their comfort zone.

The challenge continues, as they don’t have the same number of volunteers helping each year and newcomers don’t always have the experience to lead the event.

However, they now each have two kids — all between the ages of 13 and 21 — who, along with their husbands, help with the event every year, making it much easier.

After volunteering for more than two decades, the twins say the walk has become a core part of their family.

“We essentially grew up with the walk of hope and every year for a while there, one of us was either pregnant or with a newborn,” Sanchez said with a laugh.

“We’re still nursing but we haven’t been able to let go of the walk of hope yet; it’s a part of who we are and who our family is, even though it’s a lot of time and effort.”

Over their two decades of volunteering for the cause, the sisters have become passionate advocates for increased access to genetic testing.

While it’s been proven it saves lives and can catch the disease earlier, the sisters said it’s still inaccessible. They are part of many different advocacy groups trying to increase awareness.

Looking back, the two say they agree their high school selves would have never thought they’d volunteer as much as they do.

The walk of hope has shown them the importance of volunteering and how change can be achieved with it.

tiago.resko@freepress.mb.ca

Volunteer opportunities

The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to wfp.to/volunteers or call 204-477-5180.

The Good Neighbours Active Living Centre’s home maintenance program is looking for volunteers to help connect community members with local service providers. They are looking for people with either a Monday, Wednesday or Thursday availability. Volunteers must be aged 55 or older. Volunteers will listen to voicemail requests, return calls and match individuals with the appropriate service provider using a list of active providers on a computer. Volunteers can complete this role from home with access to a computer and phone, or in person at the centre. Volunteers should be comfortable communicating by phone and enjoy helping others. For more information contact Aby at hmprogram@gnalc.ca or phone 204-806-1303. Deadline is Nov. 30.

Community Financial, in partnership with Canada Revenue Agency, operates a free Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) tax clinics for individuals and families with low to modest incomes. Tax preparer and mail preparer roles are available for the 2027 tax season (late February through April). Training will be provided for all positions. Learn more and apply online at http://wfp.to/iRE or email annaj@communityfinancialmb.ca to register for a virtual orientation session on Sept. 10 (12-1 p.m.) or Sept. 14 (1-2 p.m.).

Immigrant Centre Manitoba is seeking citizenship class facilitators to lead classes delivered either online or in person to help permanent residents prepare for the Canadian Citizenship Test. This role offers flexible scheduling and the opportunity to support newcomers in their journey toward Canadian citizenship. Course materials and content are provided. Facilitators must be fluent English speakers and facilitate six two-hour classes. Apply online: http://wfp.to/iR3. Deadline is Sept. 30.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Manitoba needs facility volunteers for its Ronald McDonald House on 62 Juno St. This volunteer will support the facility team with projects, upkeep and maintenance within their programs. Duties include: painting, garage clean out (re-organization, sweeping out dust, washing the parkade floor), landscaping support, snow clearing, repairing equipment, furniture, etc. Apply online: http://wfp.to/iRh. Deadline is Oct. 26.

Osteoporosis Canada is looking for volunteers to present virtual programs on bone health, support community groups, and contribute to outreach projects. This is ideal for health-care professionals, fitness leaders, physiotherapists, and healthy-living advocates. Flexible remote commitment: just four to six hours per month. Apply by email: tapsit@osteoporosis.ca. Deadline is Dec. 31.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg would love to have you as a mentor for in-school mentoring! The in-school mentoring program provides youth with a role model and a friend to talk to and share the experiences of growing up within school grounds. For one hour a week during school hours (with a minimum one year commitment), mentors meet with their mentee and engage in activities such as board games, crafts or just hang out on school grounds. Youth are enrolled through a referral from school staff. Apply online:http://wfp.to/iRD or by phone: 204-988-9200. Deadline is Dec. 31.

Culture Days Manitoba is looking for volunteers for Nuit Blanche, working with attendees, artists and arts organizations during the evening celebration of art. One Saturday night each fall (Sat., Sept. 26) thousands of art enthusiasts, cultural animators and citizens of Winnipeg gather downtown to celebrate and explore contemporary art. You must be free on this day in the evening after 5:30 p.m. Event runs until midnight. Shifts will only be four hours. Learn more at: http://wfp.to/iRs, apply at http://wfp.to/iRK. Deadline is Sept. 20.

The annual CIBC Run for the Cure is back and is seeking volunteers to join its Winnipeg team and help support Canadians impacted by breast cancer. Applicants can sign up by visiting http://wfp.to/iRf and filtering the city to Winnipeg and the event to CIBC Run for the Cure to find volunteer roles by the Sept.30 closing date.

The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. The Red Cross can show you how to help when disaster strikes. Apply at wfp.to/0pE, volunteer@redcross.ca or 1-844-818-2155.

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