ISLANDERS WALK FOR DRUG RECOVERY

CAMPBELL RIVER -- Relatives of women missing from Vancouver's Downtown
Eastside were among those who set out early Saturday morning on a walk to
raise money for a drug recovery house.

It would likely cost about $600,000 to set up the home, said Wayne Leng, a
director with the Missing Women's Legacy Society, which will receive
proceeds from the event.

Leng, who did not participate in the roughly 40-kilometre walk from
Campbell River to Courtenay, was not sure how much money had been raised so
far for the project. He said there will likely be other fund-raising events.

"This is something we talked about three years ago," he said. "It's not
like it's something new. It's been in the works."

It is important to "help women, those who are less fortunate and those who
are drug-addicted, involved in prostitution," said Leng. "They need a
tremendous amount of support and . . . Vancouver is lacking in resources to
help these women."

Robert Pickton currently faces 15 counts of first-degree murder.

All alleged victims are on a list of 63 women missing from Vancouver's
Downtown Eastside.