Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance

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Founded
  
1990

Website
  
http://mnovarian.org/

Location
  
Minnesota

Focus
  
"Provide support to women with ovarian cancer, raise awareness and advance research."

The Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance is an organization for women with ovarian cancer in the state of Minnesota. The organization raises public awareness of ovarian cancer and helps to fund medical research. The Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA) was established in 1999.

Contents

History

The Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance was founded by a group of ovarian cancer survivors in 1999. The group of women consisted of Molly Cade, Kris Warner, Susan Kushner, Betty Noble, Joan Weinstein and Pat Rietz. They met for dinner and discussed how there was a shortage of public information on ovarian cancer. Soon after, MOCA was created with Molly Cade as the first president and Kris Warner as the first vice president of the organization.

Other members included Barb Bayerle, Susan Kushner, Sue Lorentz, Sue McIntyre, Bette Noble, and Joan Weinstein. The first meeting was held on November 16, 1999 at Richfield Lutheran Church with an attendance of thirty women. In 2000, the MOCA created their first medical advisory board made up of a number of gynecologic oncologists in the state of Minnesota. Later that year on September 16 the organization had their first annual Silent No More Walk/Run for Ovarian Cancer. At this first even they raised $108,000 for research and other programs that are associated with their organization. Over 500 ovarian cancer survivors are a part of this group and the group has raised over $1 million for cancer research.

Activities

MOCA has raised money through different means, including a cancer walk and run, which is currently one of Minnesota's biggest races. The Pedal Pub, described as a "party on wheels" has also helped raise money for the group.

MOCA has also sponsored a "Tie it Teal" campaign, giving out teal-colored shoelaces to sports teams throughout the country to raise awareness about ovarian cancer.

One unique project to raise awareness that MOCA participated in conjunction with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance was to take part in the Ovarian Cancer Quilt Project.

Mission

Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance's mission is to:

  • Create awareness of symptom of ovarian cancer that can lead to early recognition.
  • Create and promote resources for support and places where women and their families can be educated.
  • Unite everyone to find better treatments and a cure for ovarian cancer.
  • Advance cancer research toward earlier diagnosis, better treatment and a cure.

    • References

    Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA