The Town of Lewes is in its ninth year participating in a National Campaign to create awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms.
On Wednesday, August 30th @ 11:00 am, Volunteers & Survivors will meet @ Zwaanendael Park to support Turn the Towns Teal by tying Teal Bows to the light poles in the Lewes historic district. This Ovarian Cancer Awareness initiative annually takes place in September, National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation, a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer organization, sponsors this Campaign in its efforts to help save more women's lives through its mission of increasing awareness and education, raising funds for research, and helping women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Mayor Andrew Williams, local Senator, & State Representative, assisted by DOCF VP Sally Oberle, join the Turn The Towns Teal campaign. This Turn the Towns Teal initiative gives ovarian cancer survivors a voice, and the volunteers who have lost a loved one to this disease are proud to do something proactive in memory of their loved one.
The Teal bows are the VISUAL, the educational brochures listing symptoms are the KEY and are available at local merchants and the summer Concerts, providing additional information for women.
There is still NO Test for ovarian cancer, so knowledge of the vague symptoms is crucial.
The symptoms are vague and if persist more than 2 weeks, should be discussed with a physician: Bloating, Pelvic or abdominal pain, Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, Urinary symptoms (frequency or urgency). They mimic other conditions, thus are extremely difficult to diagnose.
All women are at risk, affecting 1 in 70 females of any age. Due to late diagnoses (less than 20% are diagnosed early) and a high recurrence rate (70-90%) it is the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers.
Turn The Towns Teal was coordinated by Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation VP, Sally Oberle, who lost her sister Sidney to ovarian cancer and volunteers in her memory.
Residents are encouraged to join the awareness campaign by tying a teal ribbon on their mailboxes to show support for this Ovarian Cancer Awareness Campaign. Other signs of support can be displayed by wearing teal on Teal Tuesdays, teal hair extensions, teal Awareness bands, teal ribbon car magnets, and polishing nails as teal " tips and toes." Volunteers to DOCF are always welcome! Come join us to help save more women's lives!
For more information on Turn The Towns Teal Campaign, https://www.turnthetownsteal.org/