After 15 years, Teal There’s a Cure will have its last annual “Maureen T. O’Hara 5K” this Fourth of July.
The annual race held at Marcellus Park was started by Maureen T. O’Hara in 2009 following her ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2007. The event raises awareness of the illness through educational signs along the race route and raises funds for research at local and national hospitals, such as the Upstate Cancer Center.
O’Hara decided she needed to do something to raise awareness for ovarian cancer to help prevent women from being diagnosed too late, said Mary McBlane, Teal There’s a Cure committee member and a close friend of O’Hara’s.
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 19,710 women will receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis and about 13,270 women will die from illness in 2023. Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women and accounts for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, according to the ACS website.
Following O’Hara’s passing shortly after the 2012 race, McBlane, close friends and family decided to rename the annual 5K run/walk after her in 2015 to honor her work and legacy.
Katie Tucker, secretary of Teal There’s a Cure, said the event has raised $461,000 in the last 15 years, They hope to reach their goal of $500,000 this year.
“In addition to donating to research, we give money to the foundation account at Upstate,” said McBlane. “And that account is for women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer to be able to get some money to support them for their treatment efforts.”
While this may be the last year holding the race, the organization plans to continue its efforts to educate people about ovarian cancer by supporting other local non-profits, such as Grace’s Garden, which holds support groups for ovarian cancer patients, survivors and their families.
“I just hope that we will continue to raise this awareness, carrying on Maureen’s legacy. She just really wanted to…
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