Hannah Pete, left, and Gladys Radek embrace while attending a 2009 vigil to honour the lives of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Vancouver. Radek co-founded Walk4Justice, a campaign to raise awareness and seek justice for victimized women. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

Bio: Gladys Radek, 55, co-founded Vancouver-based Walk4Justice in 2008, a campaign to raise awareness and seek justice for victimized women. Her own niece, Tamara Chipman, disappeared in 2005 along Highway 16 in northern British Columbia. Radek is one of the Top 10 finalists in CBC and Outpost Magazine's Champions of Change contest. CBCNews.ca Your Voice asked her to explain why she volunteers.

My story: I am totally encouraged and inspired by the families of the missing and murdered women who have been silenced for so many years. The stories they have shared and the injustices they have endured for decades have spoken to my heart.

The first time I used my voice was proving systemic racism through a human rights tribunal in 2005. This case was based on witnessing abuse toward aboriginal, poor and disabled people at Tinseltown Mall in Vancouver. It took four years to win this precedent-setting case.

Shortly after this successful lawsuit, a tragic event happened. My beloved niece, Tamara Lynn Chipman, disappeared off what is known as the highway of tears in northern B.C. She was a 22-year-old mother of a two-and-a-half-year-old boy and my brother's only natural child.

In searching for answers, it was obvious that there was much more to it than just one young lady going missing. Through researching and meeting other family members while looking for Tamara, I met an array of like-minded activists who were mourning their lost loved ones, some for decades. In 2006 I was introduced to the notion of walking the highways to create awareness about our missing loved ones by my cousin, Florence Naziel. She organized a walk from Prince Rupert, B.C., to Terrace, B.C., to honour Tamara in March 2006. I joined their walk and encouraged them to keep walking to Prince George, B.C., where the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council had organized the highway of tears symposium.

It was more than 500 kilometres longer than the walkers had anticipated, but we had a strong message to deliver. We wanted to raise awareness about the many women who had gone missing or been found murdered along Highway 16. We want justice, closure, equality and accountability. We walked into the symposium where the Highway of Tears Initiative was born. Thirty-three recommendations were agreed upon by the government, public and safety ministers, police, First Nations leaderships, Carrier Sekani Tribal Council and the family members and children of the missing and murdered women, in 2006.

The symposium was the most powerful, emotionally charged and inspiring event I have been to in my life. The families' stories hit home, because I was raised with these families and many of the young girls were related to me by blood. Many of us had also been victims of violence during our childhood years, and it was a very emotionally charged three days. It was then that I decided I wanted to do something about it.

I met a young activist by the name of Bernie Williams while posting Tamara's picture in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. She lost her mother and two sisters and numerous friends in [the same neighbourhood]. She mentored me and taught me to speak from the heart, and together we co-founded the Walk4Justice. In January 2008 there was virtually no news about Tamara or any of the victims from the highway of tears, and a vision came to me. I called Bernie and asked her what she thought of walking across the country to raise awareness about the women, to gather more information about the serious flaws in the systems, to demand a public inquiry into the far too many deaths and to speak out for all those families who are left to mourn in silence. We needed to fight to stop the continuing violence against women. We organized family members, volunteer walkers, donations, a trip plan and presentations across the nation and created a voice for all the families. We created national and international attention to the plight of women in Canada.

Why do I volunteer? I volunteer for the families who have lost their loved ones and will continue to walk until Canada is a safe place for women to live. I will walk until justice is served, closure is achieved, equality is law and accountability is acknowledged. If we can save one woman's life then this has all been worth it.

Thank you to all the families. Always know that I am there for you. Prayers to all for safety, health and prosperity.
 
We also want to share your stories of volunteerism. Tell us what volunteer work you do and answer this question: "Why do you volunteer?" We may feature you on our website as well. Let us know in the comments below, email us at yournews@cbc.ca, or leave a message on Facebook or Twitter. You can vote for your favourite Champion of Change here.