During a city council meeting on Aug. 26, Mayor Leonard Desiderio, with ovarian cancer survivor Missy (nee Light) Dougherty, 32, Havertown, Pa., at his side, announced that the city was making this proclamation in support of The Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation’s “Turn the Towns Teal” Campaign.
During the campaign, cities across the Delaware Valley will show their support for Ovarian Cancer research in various ways, all with the use of the color teal.
According to the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation website, Boat House Row in Philadelphia will be adorned in teal, as will the Ben Franklin Bridge and the lights atop Liberty Place.
The PECO building in center city will display a message for ovarian cancer research during September and a “Stand Up To Cancer” television special will be broadcast on all three networks on Sept. 5, National Ovarian Cancer Teal Day.
In Sea Isle City, teal ribbons will be tied to 50 trees around the resort in support of the awareness campaign.
For Dougherty, her husband, Brendan, and her parents, George and Barbara, who have had a summer home in Sea Isle City for decades, ovarian cancer awareness is obviously a very important issue. After first being diagnosed in October 2008, Dougherty was immediately faced with surgery at the Fox Chase Cancer Center, followed by three rounds of chemotherapy. Now cancer-free, she is intent on helping bring the message of ovarian cancer awareness to others.
“I was almost angry that I didn’t know more about ovarian cancer when I was first diagnosed–and I should have, being a woman,” said Dougherty. “Not a lot of people are very educated about this type of cancer and bringing the disease to the forefront with this campaign is a great concern.”
