I've been visiting this site for a few months now and I'm always moved and motivated by the postings I read here.
Ever since I was diagnosed almost 2 years ago, I've wanted to DO something to beat this disease. I might not rid my body of it but I can beat it if I do something positive to help others and to raise awareness about OVCA.
It has taken a while for ideas to come, and for the energy to carry them out, but over the summer I've jumped in. I hope you don't mind if I share a few things that are helping me regain command of my life and circumstances. Talk about positive side-effects!! I feel energized and alive!! And my heart is full with love for all the people who are helping and supporting my efforts.
The National Ovarian Cancer Alliance and The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition have been a big part of my inspiration.
I recently worked with the Alliance to place full color awareness ads in several newspapers in my state. The Alliance had received a generous donation in my name and someone from the national office called to ask me to suggest how the money might be spent to raise awareness in my state (the donation specified the money had to be used in my community). The Alliance ads will run next week. One ad will appear across the entire bottom of the front page of the newspaper!! The ads will be in full color so the TEAL will help blast the message to readers. I'm so excited about these ads. We've never seen anything like them in our tiny towns.
I've also signed up to be a Survivor Teaching Students in medical schools. We tell our stories, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to the 'whispering' symptoms as a way to inform 3rd year medical students about the importance of keeping ovarian cancer on their radar screens when addressing women's' health concerns. I've met some incredible sister survivors through this program. I have to drive a couple hours each way to get to one of the schools--none near my hometown--but it's worth it.
And most recently, my husband, son and I started a not-for-profit fund called The Starrlight Fund. It's purpose is very direct: it will help women with ovarian cancer in my state, one woman at a time. Working directly with not-for-profit cancer organizations and hospitals, the fund will provide immediate emergency assistance to women who find themselves in crisis and need to meet health insurance co-pay; pay for prescriptions not covered by insurance; get transportation to and from treatment; buy groceries; pay a utility bill to avoid disconnection or handle similar urgent household needs.
These are just some of the challenges we've witnessed during our own fight with Ovarian Cancer and wished we had the means to provide a much-needed helping hand. The Starrlight Fund, launched this week at my husband's 50th birthday party, is that helping hand. The fund is managed by a Community Foundation in my state--they invest the monies, ensure IRS and other regulatory compliance and disburse funds to appropriate assistance agencies as directed by our board. We asked friends and family to make a donation to the fund rather than bring a birthday gift or card. The response has been wonderful. This is a true grassroots effort so it will take a few months to bring in real dollars but we're already talking thousands.
Some friends have volunteered to hold parties at their homes to raise money for Starrlight. And my husband's restaurant has started a new line of desserts--the most amazing gourmet cupcakes--called Shooting Star Cupcakes. A percentage of proceeds from sale of the cupcakes will go directly to the Starrlight Fund. (I've been having a blast baking cupcakes to come up with the recipes.)
I wanted to share these ideas with all of you for your suggestions and feedback.