Walking in aid of ovarian cancer – Ovacome set to host annual Walking Event in Cannon Hill Park
Ovacome, the UK’s ovarian cancer support charity, are set to host their annual ‘Walk With Us’ event, taking place on Saturday 27th September at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham.
This free and uplifting community walk marks the grand finale of Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place in September every year, and is aiming to bring together those impacted by ovarian cancer for a day of movement and connection. The Walk is free to sign-up for and is open to not only those affected by ovarian cancer, but anyone that wishes to attend – whether that’s friends, family or dogs!
Participants of the walk can choose to walk between three different distances: 2km, 5km or 10km, and are able to choose their distance on the day. Those who sign up also have the option of making a donation to Ovacome or setting up a fundraising page for the event. Overall, the charity is trying to raise £75,000 during September, to reach more than one million people with awareness and information materials for the next 12 months. Ovacome provides free support and information to anyone affected by ovarian cancer, operating a Support Line and hosting Health and Wellbeing events across the UK throughout the year.
As a disease, ovarian cancer is predominantly diagnosed at stages 3 and 4 in the UK and the symptoms are often assumed to be something else, such as IBS or the menopause. 7,500 people are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year, and one in 50 women can expect a diagnosis in their lifetime. Known as an ‘uncommon cancer’ because of these statistics, many diagnosed with the disease can become isolated, which is one of the reasons why it is so important to raise funds and awareness through events like this.
Niccola, who is an Ovacome member and attended the event last year, shared her highlights and expressed the importance of the event:
“I signed up for the event thinking that it would be a good opportunity to meet other people with similar stories. But it more than delivered. I left the event with a real buzz, having met some wonderful and inspirational people. I could easily have walked and chatted my way around another couple of laps ! To me it was far more than a fundraising and awareness event - what it delivered was an opportunity for friendship and network building and a desire to do more.”
To register for the event, donate or find out more, you can visit Ovacome’s website here: www.ovacome.org.uk/event/walk-with-us/home.