Brooklyn Cares BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
Kind hearted Brooklynites walk Prospect Park to raise
money to fi ght ovarian cancer and support survivors
ONE BROOKLYN | FALL 2019 23
Hundreds of Brooklynites donned
blue-green-colored getups as they
strutted through Prospect Park
on Sept. 7th for the Teal Walk and
Run fundraiser to support ovarian
cancer research and survivors.
The 11th annual event is was
hosted by T.E.A.L., a Brooklyn-based
non-profi t organization aimed at raising
awareness of and fi ghting the
deadly disease.
More than 1,600 cancer-fi ghting
do-gooders gathered near the Ninth
Street entrance of Brooklyn’s Backyard
for the start of the philanthropic
5k walk and run around the park’s
interior — helping to raise nearly
$140,000 at this year’s procession.
In addition to the money, the event
helped spread a critical understanding
of the disease, which often accompanies
few visible symptoms and
is often fatal if not caught early, said
one ovarian cancer survivor.
“It’s really important to raise
awareness and make sure people
know as much as they can,” said Jennifer
Garam, who got a clean bill of
health from her doctor fi ve months
ago. “A lot of the symptoms aren’t noticeable,
so it’s important to get that
information out there.”
Garam walked at this year’s event
for the fi rst time along with her
mother and a group of friends following
an emotional tribute ceremony at
the Prospect Park Bandshell, where
around 60 survivors took turns sharing
their stories and supporting their
fellow cancer survivors.
“It was so exciting and exhilarating
to be on stage with all these survivors
— there was so much hope,” she
said. “It was amazing. It was beautiful.
There was so much energy there,
and people were so passionately supporting
this cause.”
A record-setting 733 people ran
the fi ve-kilometer track at this year’s
race, and over 830 walked the event,
according to T.E.A.L.’s programs
manager.
“It was really an amazing day.
We had a really great turnout of participants.
We had the most runners
we’ve ever had,” said Courtney Donahue
Taleporos. “The weather could
not have been more perfect, it wasn’t
too hot, but it was sunny — it was fantastic.”
Runners and walkers pose in their superhero getup as they prepare to fi ght ovarian cancer
at the Teal Walk and Run at Prospect Park on Sept. 7. Photo by Trey Pentecost
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