Wellness
Brooklynites raise awareness of
ovarian cancer with virtual Walk
BY BEN VERDE & PAUL
FRANGIPANE
Ovarian cancer survivors took
to the streets of Brooklyn this
weekend for the annual walk
organized by the nonprofit TEAL,
which was reimagined this year
as a virtual event to adhere to
social distancing guidelines.
Falling in the middle of Ovarian
Cancer Awareness Month, the
12th annual Brooklyn event saw
small groups flocking to various
areas around the borough and
capturing their experience with
pictures and videos — all while
bringing attention to the disease,
which affects over 20,000 women
in the United States each year.
Yolande Cadore, a 68-year-old
Crown Heights resident, walked
with her daughter and five grandchildren
on Saturday in memory
of her mother, who died from
ovarian cancer in 2011 at the
age of 85. Cadore’s mother was
diagnosed too late to be treated
and died three weeks after her
diagnosis.
“I was very hurt because she
was 85 years old and at that
age, they’re always in the doctor’s
office, so I couldn’t understand
why she’s always in the doctor’s
office and they couldn’t diagnose,”
she said. “A lot of people
are not aware about this ovarian
cancer.”
Caribbean L 16 ife, Sept. 18-24, 2020
Cadore was elected chairwoman
of the TEAL committee
at her local Lions Club in
Crown Heights, where she works
to spread awareness about the
disease and raise funds towards
research.
There is currently no diagnostic
test for ovarian cancer, and
the symptoms are often vague and
hard to detect — making it difficult
to diagnose, she said.
“I really wish they could come
up with some kind of test to diagnose
when someone has ovarian
cancer,” said Cadore. “Hopefully
soon, with all the research
they’re doing, I hope so — to
save lives.”
Over 15,000 people have participated
in the TEAL walk in
years past, with the first annual
walk taking place in Kings County
in 2009. Over $1.9 million
has been raised for research and
awareness programs through the
walk.
Those interested in TEAL (formally
known as the Tell Every
Amazing Lady About Ovarian
Cancer Louisa M. McGregor
Ovarian Cancer Foundation)
can head to www.tealwalk.org
to learn about more upcoming
events, and donate to support the
organization.
Smaller groups than usual gathered for the Tell Every Amazing Lady About Ovarian Cancer Louisa M. McGregor
Ovarian Cancer Foundation’s annual Brooklyn walk. The event, which raises awarness of and funds to fi ght
ovarian cancer, was forced to pivot to a virtual event this September due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Photos by Paul Frangipane
/www.tealwalk.org
