Wellness
Brooklynites raise awareness of
ovarian cancer with virtual Walk
COURIER LIFE, SEPT. 18-24, 2020 21
BY BEN VERDE & PAUL
FRANGIPANE
Ovarian cancer survivors
took to the streets of Brooklyn
this weekend for the annual
walk organized by the nonprofi
t 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 fl ocking 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-yearold
Crown Heights resident,
walked with her daughter and
fi ve 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
offi ce, so I couldn’t understand
why she’s always in the doctor’s
offi ce and they couldn’t diagnose,”
she said. “A lot of people
are not aware about this ovarian
cancer.”
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
diffi cult 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 fi rst
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