This Friday, wear teal for ovarian cancer

NEWS RELEASE
ZONTA CLUB OF SAULT STE. MARIE
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Ovarian cancer is the most fatal women’s cancer; yet it is often overlooked and under-diagnosed. Symptoms are vague, so most women are diagnosed in late stages when 70 per cent will not survive five years. Approximately one in four Canadian women still believe that a Pap test screens for ovarian cancer; it does not. A Pap test screens for cervical cancer.

“The Zonta Club of Sault Ste. Marie Area has set a goal to raise awareness of ovarian cancer in our community. Everyone knows what pink ribbons are for. We want to ensure that people in our community recognize what the teal ribbons represent but also become more aware of possible signs of potential ovarian cancer and advocate for themselves with their family physicians,” states Kathy Rydall, President of the Zonta Club of Sault Ste. Marie Area.

“We will start off Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month by posting signs and tying teal ribbons on Queen Street from Pilgrim to Dennis Street. The Zonta Club was one of the national recipients of the Peggy Truscott Award of Hope from Ovarian Cancer Canada in 2020 for our awareness activities and support of Ovarian Cancer Canada since 2009. We are very proud of this recognition.”

National Wear Teal Day is on Friday, Sept. 3 and people are encouraged to wear teal, take a photo and share it with your friends and family on social media. For the last five years the culmination of September activities has been the Zonta fundraiser, Purses, Pies and Pinot, where proceeds have been divided between Ovarian Cancer Canada and Zonta service projects in our community. Since 2016, the Zonta Club has raised over $36,000 for Ovarian Cancer Canada thanks to the support of our community.

“For the last two years, COVID-19 has posed a challenge for our annual fundraiser but we decided to go virtual last year and are continuing this year,” says Sharon Kirkpatrick, Chair of the fundraiser, “we called it Purses Pies & Pinot @ Home.

The on-line auction offers 18 purses, 18 pies (including a pie a month for a year) and 50 other auction items. Many thanks to our community donors and our sponsors: Avery Construction, Onofrio’s Eternal Monuments, Evolugen by Brookfield Renewable, Exit Realty Lake Superior, Great Lakes Honda, S&T Group and the Soup Witch. Thanks to Mike Peever Auctions, people can bid on these items from 9am Monday, Sept. 20 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24 on michaelpeeverauctions.com .

If community members want more information, they can contact the Zonta email [email protected] or watch for updates on the Zonta Club of Sault Ste. Marie Area Facebook page.

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