Dan endures for Ovarian Cancer!

On October 16th, I ran the 2011 Detroit Half Marathon w/ Andrew Bayley to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and to raise funds for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Most imporantly, I ran in memory of my good friend, Jackie Bayley, who recently passed away on August 27, 2011.

Jackie, who passed away at the very young age of 34, was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer in April of 2009. My hope is that by raising money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, Inc (OCRF), early detection will become more common and treatment will become swift and effective. I'll admit to knowing little to nothing about Ovarian Cancer prior to April, but have since found that, by comparison, there is not nearly as much awareness or fundraising for this type of cancer. As Jackie wrote in an email during her battle:

"As I learn more about this disease, I am frightfully concerned about how little research (particularly diagnostic research) is available. Ovarian Cancer is called the silent killer because (as with my case) it comes with few or no symptoms by the time the patient has reached stage 3 or 4 and the cancer has spread throughout the body (as it did to a number of my organs in the abdomen)....Your efforts, and those that will surely follow due to your caring organization from many of our friends, acquaintances, family, co-workers and still-strangers can only help the next 31 year old girl who didn't know anything was wrong.”

Anybody who has a mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, daugther, niece, cousin, friend, female co-worker, or mailwoman should be getting information out ot them early and often, as early testing and detection is paramount. Even if you are not able to help in my fundraising efforts, please visit either of these websites and get the education and awareness out there and to follow our collective team fundraising efforts:

http://www.enduring4ovariancancer.blogspot.com/

http://www.cancer.gov

http://www.ocrf.org

Previously, I had started this fundraising campaign in the fall of '09 and was able to raise just shy of $1,000. I am hoping that I can improve upon that effort this time around but I cannot do so without your support.

Thank you!