Help Anya raise money

This August, I will be running in the ASICS Falmouth Road Race in Falmouth, MA, as a member of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Team Teal. My efforts will help improve the lives of women, families, and communities touched by ovarian cancer. Over 225,000 females are currently living with an ovarian cancer diagnosis in the U.S. alone, and nearly 22,000 are diagnosed annually. There is no early detection test, and all females are at risk. Together, we are raising early awareness and education and working toward better outcomes for those impacted. I am dedicated to making a difference with my miles — and together, we will end ovarian cancer!

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today in support of my fundraising efforts.

My journey with Team Teal began in 2023 with the TD 5 Boro Bike Tour, where we biked 40 miles around NYC, raising awareness for ovarian cancer. In November 2023, I ran the Boston Half Marathon, and in 2024, I completed the NYC Marathon. I’ve never felt more connected to such a strong, supportive, and inspiring community.

I decided to join Team Teal in support of my mom. In July 2020, she was diagnosed with advanced-stage III ovarian cancer that had already spread to her abdomen. At the time of her diagnosis, we were told she had a 50% chance of making it to five years. This year marks FIVE YEARS — and we made it!! That milestone means everything!

Being diagnosed during COVID made it incredibly hard to visit her frequently and care for her after treatments. After six rounds of chemo and major abdominal surgery, she went into remission for almost 2.5 years. Unfortunately, her cancer returned in the summer of 2024. We were devastated, but also grateful for the timing — I had just moved to Boston and could be closer to help care for her. Since being re-diagnosed, she participated in a grueling year-long clinical trial in Boston. Watching this treatment take such a toll on her body was incredibly challenging as both her loved one and caregiver.

My mom is the strongest person I know. My whole life, it’s been the two of us. She has supported me unconditionally, and I will always show up for her in the same way. While things are somewhat stable right now, the fight continues — for better treatment, earlier detection, and more awareness.

My mom and I have always leaned on humor to get through the hardest moments. She even named her original chemo IV pole “Ivanka” and posed with it. I once sent her what felt like a lifetime supply of lotion and Chapstick after reading about chemo drying everything out. We’ve managed to laugh during countless scans and infusion appointments. Sometimes, laughter is the only way through.

Your donation to the NOCC supports funding for research, education, awareness, and quality of life programs. You can support my efforts by making a tax-deductible donation today. Support goes toward programs such as:

-Meal Delivery
 -Mental Health Support
 -Financial Assistance for those facing financial hardship
 -Case Management
 -Educational and Comfort Kits distributed at major hospitals to those newly diagnosed or experiencing recurrence
 -Peer-to-Peer Support Groups
 -Educational programs including Teal Talks: An Ovarian Cancer Podcast, In-Person Education -Series, and the Patient Animation Guide

Early diagnosis and proper medical education on the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer could have given my mom an earlier diagnosis.

Know the often unrecognized signs and symptoms. Spread the word. Be your OWN advocate. For years, my mom’s PCP in NYC told her that her bloated belly was just excess “visceral” weight she needed to lose — when it was actually abdominal fluid building up from tumors.

Will you support me and the NOCC by:

• Making a tax-deductible donation
 • Asking for a company match if you’re eligible
 • Sharing my page and story
• Reading and posting about ovarian cancer awareness at http://ovarian.org/

Thank you so much for your support — it truly means more than you know. 💙