Help us raise money

In honor of my late mother, Mimi Parsons, I want to raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer, and to help provide financial and logistical support for survivors. Through fundraising, I want to assist people battling with this diagnosis and their families. I also want to further efforts to educate the general population about Ovarian Cancer, so that women and girls can be diagnosed and treated earlier in the disease.

Mom was a fit and healthy woman right before her diagnosis in 2019. Despite this, the disease was advanced by the time her symptoms prompted a visit to the doctor. She fought courageously throughout her aggressive treatments, maintained a sense of humor and perspective through surgery and chemotherapy, and, despite COVID restrictions, continued to pursue many of the things she loved, and to travel. She passed away from complications of ovarian cancer in April 2022.

Ovarian Cancer has the reputation of being a "silent killer", given its vague and non-specific symptoms that many women and doctors may overlook early in the disease. These include 1) bloating, 2) pelvic or abdominal pain, 3) difficulty eating or feeling full quickly and 4) urinary urgency. Unfortunately, a great many symptoms, including these, are not easily distinguished from those experienced by all women in the general population.

These symptoms may not occur until late stage, meaning more advanced disease before diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms are significant, but they are not a definitive diagnostic tool.  Since there is no diagnostic tool for ovarian cancer, symptom awareness remains of crucial importance. Being aware of the symptoms can help women get diagnosed sooner. Early stage diagnosis is associated with an improved prognosis.

Please join me in helping survivors to keep fighting, and in raising awareness that may give families more time with their loved ones.