Sorrentino's Compassion House in Edmonton, which provides affordable accommodations for women who need to travel to Edmonton to receive cancer treatments (Photo: Compassion House Foundation / Facebook / Bryan Cooper)

By Shaun Penner

Walk Her Way 5K

Mother/daughter duo leading Grande Prairie fundraising run/walk for Compassion House

May 9, 2021 | 7:00 AM

A local mother/daughter duo are leading a 5K run/walk this week in Grande Prairie to raise funds and awareness for the Sorrentino’s Compassion House in Edmonton, which provides affordable accommodations for women who must travel to Edmonton for cancer treatment.

Khris Weeks and her daughter Erin are the two leading the charge locally for the inaugural Walk Her Way 5K, as Khris stayed at Compassion House back in 2018 while she received radiation treatment for breast cancer.

Khris says prior to her diagnosis she had never heard of Compassion House, but was pleased to learn of such a place, as she did not have family in Edmonton to stay with during her four weeks of treatment.

“When you are undergoing cancer (treatment), it’s pretty traumatic,” said Khris. “To be without your family and your friends as supports.”

However, by staying at Compassion House, Khris says her family was able to stay with her at the home while she was receiving her treatment.

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Beyond that, the volunteers at the Compassion House also provided her free transportation to and from the Cross Cancer Institute each day, among the many other services they provide to their guests.

“All your physical needs are met, but I think what really surprised me was the comradery with women who are going through the same thing that you are. Experiencing the same emotions,” said Khris.

“You wouldn’t have that if you had to stay at a hotel or get an apartment and you are by yourself.”

Khris Weeks (right) rings the bell after beating cancer in 2018, alongside her daughter Erin (Photo supplied by Erin Weeks)

Since her time at Compassion House, Khris says Erin has led several fundraisers in Grande Prairie for the Compassion House Foundation.

This is because Erin, who has taken on the role of Fitness Champion for the 5K event in Grande Prairie, knows how important a place like Compassion House is for people like her mom who must travel a great distance to receive treatments.

“They’ve housed 200-plus women from Grande Prairie alone since they opened up in 2002,” said Erin.

“The biggest thing about the Grande Prairie region and this fundraiser is that you are not going to see women from Edmonton (stay there),” she added. “The women that are going to go there are the ones that need a place to stay. That’s literally the majority of their people, are Grande Prairie and Peace Region area people.”

Since 2018, Erin says she has been able to raise about $4,000 locally for the foundation. She says the goal, provincially, for the Walk Her Way 5K is $50,000.

With public health restrictions in place, the walk will happen from May 13-16. Signage will be set up throughout the Muskoseepi Park loop to act as a “home base” for the walk.

Those interested can sign up as an individual, as or team or sign up to join a team for the walk and to raise funds. That can be completed, as well as monetary donations, on the Walk Her Way 5K website.

Overall, both Erin and Khris say they want to help ensure the Compassion House will be there for other families who will have to go through the same journey.

“Places like Compassion House… makes the cancer journey a little bit easier. I’m so grateful for the time I spent there,” said Khris.

“My mom is everything to me,” added Erin, who thanked the volunteers at Compassion House for making her mom feel welcome and comfortable during her stay. “She’s the best friend I could ever have and the best grandma to my kids. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have her.”