PSC08302019 - Page 16

Advocates spread awareness of ovarian cancer BY COLIN MIXSON It was a teal-good event! Dozens of volunteers, business advocates, and professional do-gooders braved intense heat and pouring rain to spread the word about ovarian cancer last week, when they tied dozens of teal-colored ribbons to Kings County trees advertising symptoms of the deadly disease. “Thursday it was really, really hot and we were all sweating, and Friday it was raining, but were out tying ribbons on trees because we have to tell everyone about Teal!” said Courtney Donahue-Taleporos, programs manager at Teal — a non-for-profi t that spreads awareness about the disease, supports survivors, and raises money for research. The awareness campaign saw Teal partner with the Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District in Park Slope, the North Flatbush Business Improvement District in Prospect Heights, and the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District in Clinton Hill to tie ribbons dyed teal — the offi cial color of ovarian cancer — and emblazoned �� COURIER L 14 IFE, AUG. 30-SEPT 5, 2019 with information about the disease to trees throughout the business advocacy group’s respective territories on Aug. 22 and Aug. 23. And the effort seemed to work, according to one Teal staffer, who said locals were intrigued by the curious ribbons approached volunteers seeking more information. “They see a little gang of teal people and they always ask ‘what are you doing over Yolande Cadore ties a ribbon around a tree on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope on Aug. 22. here?’” said Danielle Holloway, an executive assistant at Teal. The ribbon-tying event comes just before September’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and the 11th annual Teal Walk and Run in Prospect Park on Sept. 11, the group’s big annual fundraiser, when they hope to amass more than $200,000 in donations, according to Holloway. Anyone interested in participating in Teal’s fundraising event can register online at tealwalk.org/brooklyn . (From left) Joanna Tallantire, Jonathan Bayer, Mark Caserta, and Courtney Donahue worked together ti tie dozens of teal-colored ribbons to kings county trees to spread awareness of ovarian cancer. Photos by Caroline Ourso �� /brooklyn