NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER COALITION DELIVERS HARD-HITTING MESSAGE FOR SEPTEMBER NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER MONTH
DALLAS – September 1, 2016 – Since 1998 when former President Bill Clinton proclaimed September to be National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) has leveraged this widespread public attention to educate women about one of the world’s deadliest cancers. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the NOCC is the oldest and largest ovarian cancer organization of its kind in the country. NOCC kicked off its September awareness campaign with the theme, “not knowing is killing us”. The campaign dramatically points out how devastating this silent killer can be for the one in 75 women who will battle ovarian cancer in their lifetime.
“Not knowing is literally killing thousands of women every year. Women usually don’t feel ‘sick’ early on and since there are no early detection tests, most women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer at a very late stage. The medical community does not yet know enough to effectively detect and treat the disease in its early stages,” said David Barley, chief executive officer of NOCC.
At the center of NOCC’s month-long awareness blitz are the organization’s signature Run/Walks to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer® located in markets across the United States. Each event celebrates those surviving and thriving and honors those we have lost to the disease. Not only are these community events the NOCC’s major fundraiser for the year, they are also the most visible events to help get the word out about awareness and the steps women can take to fight ovarian cancer. For anyone interested in participating, the NOCC urges you to visit http://ovarian.org/knowovarian to learn more.
The awareness side of the campaign will start with a prominent digital outdoor board in New York’s famed Times Square. NOCC will also be a key supporter and collaborator with Stand Up to Cancer, the fifth biennial televised fundraising special on Friday, September 9 (8-9 p.m. ET/PT / 7 p.m. CT). Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Emma Stone, Anna Kendrick, Josh Gad, Niecy Nash, Eric Stonestreet, Alison Sweeney, Ken Jeong, Marcia Cross, Greg Grunberg, Danielle Campbell, Charlie Wilson, Brittany Daniel, and SU2C Co-Founder Katie Couric will all appear in the inspiring broadcast. In addition, celebrated recording artists, Celine Dion and Keith Urban with Little Big Town will perform moving tributes in honor of all those standing up to cancer.
Proceeds from all donations to NOCC go to help fund groundbreaking research, community events, early awareness campaigns, and quality of life programs to support survivors, their loved ones, and caregivers. Visit ovarian.org to learn more and check out our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLfCzzUQN5M.
About NOCC
Since its inception, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) has been committed to raising awareness, promoting education, and funding research in support of women, families, and communities touched by ovarian cancer. NOCC is well established as an important national advocate for patients and families struggling with ovarian cancer, and remains steadfast in its mission to save lives by fighting tirelessly to prevent and cure ovarian cancer, and to improve the quality of life for survivors. For more information, please visit www.ovarian.org.
