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April 2, 2015
World Ovarian Cancer Day May 8: One Voice for Every Woman
Individuals around the world are invited to join the global movement to raise awareness about
ovarian cancer. This year the theme will celebrate the natural bond women have with each other,
encouraging people to send in photos of celebratory bonding moments and to sign the awareness
pledge located on the website (www.ovariancancerday.org) to spread the word about ovarian
cancer for the third annual World Ovarian Cancer Day (WOCD) on May 8th.
“Now in its third year, World Ovarian Cancer Day has grown globally to over 78 organizations
from 25 countries,” says Elisabeth Baugh, chair of the WOCD international organizing committee
and CEO of Ovarian Cancer Canada. “In celebrating the unique bonds of women, we are
acknowledging the strong drive they have to share and help each other. Without women, the
world would not be. Joining together, our common voice symbolizes a global support group for
the 250,000 women who will be diagnosed this year with ovarian cancer.”
Celebrate the women you love, trust, and are proud to know by helping to raise awareness about
ovarian cancer and participate in a video of celebratory images to be released globally on May 8,
World Ovarian Cancer Day. Submit a photo of a moment which exemplifies women in solidarity –
laughing, playing, working together to make a difference.
“Our outreach has demonstrated the ability of this campaign to increase awareness of the
disease and to connect people internationally with the resources available to educate others,”
explained members of the Steering Committee, Calaneet Balas, CEO of the Ovarian Cancer
National Alliance, Annwen Jones, Target Ovarian Cancer and Alison Amos, Australia. “This year
we want to put faces to that movement – faces of women who care about and support each
other.”
In 2015, not only cancer organizations, but all interested groups who care about the health of
women internationally are invited to register and partner with us. The pledge also engages
individuals worldwide, empowering them with information about ovarian cancer and a quick and
easy way to pass on the word about the disease.
All those who sign the World Ovarian Cancer Day pledge at www.ovariancancerday.org will
receive an e-card on May 8 with ovarian cancer risk and symptom information. This card is to be
passed along to at least five friends, who in turn will be encouraged to pass it along to their
friends.
Each year, nearly a quarter of a million women around the world are diagnosed with ovarian
cancer and the disease is responsible for 140,000 deaths annually. Statistics show that just 45%
of women with ovarian cancer are likely to survive for five years compared with 89% of women
with breast cancer. Women in developed and developing countries are similarly affected by
ovarian cancer.
The recent disclosure by Angelina Jolie Pitt about prophylactic surgery to remove her fallopian
tubes and ovaries because of a genetic predisposition for ovarian and breast cancer has put
knowledge about your family history in the spotlight. Approximately 15%- 20% of cases of ovarian
cancer are due to family history. This means having a close blood relation (mother, sister,
daughter, grandmother, granddaughter, aunt or niece) on either your mother’s or your father’s
side of the family who has had breast cancer before the age of 50 or ovarian cancer at any age.
In addition to sharing symptom and risk information, WOCD will also focus on prevention of
ovarian cancer.
WOCD’s social media campaign includes the WOCD website (available in 4 languages: English,
French, Portuguese and Spanish), Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest. Activities in 2014
were highlighted in photos and through the pledge dissemination which reached over 15,000
people. This will continue to grow on May 8 this year including “lighting the world in teal” – the
colour that represents ovarian cancer.
World Ovarian Cancer Day has become a global movement in three short years. Uniting patient
organizations globally, it has also sparked interest and involvement from healthcare professionals
in countries around the world. This year we celebrate the voice of women in making a difference
as we unite and speak with one voice to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. Globally, rejoicing on
our unique bond, we will ensure that no woman with ovarian cancer walks alone.
Please join us by signing the pledge form and submitting your photos and videos of your unique
bonding moments to www.ovariancancerday.org.
Elisabeth Baugh
Chair, World Ovarian Cancer Day
CEO, Ovarian Cancer Canada
[email protected]
www.ovariancancerday.org