For Bellevue resident Corrine Cope, ovarian cancer hits very close to home. In the past four years, Cope has seen two of her aunts and her childhood neighbor be taken by the disease.
Frustrated by the hand their family and friend was dealt, Cope and her sisters – Jessica Shane and Jackelyn Immel – decided to get involved with the fight against the disease.
First, they contacted the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian cancer Research at Swedish. Next they started the Totally Teal Toast pub crawl, which will celebrate three years of fundraising in Bellevue this February. And this Sunday, Cope, along with family and friends, will participate in the Swedish SummeRun for the second time.
Cope says she originally got involved in the fight against ovarian cancer because she and her sisters didn’t understand how three women so close to them could be diagnosed so late. The Totally Teal Toast team took shape when Cope and her sisters researched the disease and realized that ovarian cancer’s deadliness was often due to a lack of symptom recognition.
“It’s an issue for all women that needs to be addressed,” Cope said.
The sisters decided that starting the team would not only play a part in the healing process for them, but also could potentially save other women from this often overlooked disease.
A fairly new team, Cope said this year’s team will consist of approximately 20 guys and girls hailing from Bellevue, Sammamish and Kirkland. While their goal was originally to raise $1,000 she said they’ve already surpassed that.
In addition to spreading awareness and camaraderie, the upcoming race also will serve as a point of pride for Cope, as the high school dance team she coaches will be on hand to cheer on runners.
“It’s really cool for me to see the look on people’s faces – to see survivors or families light up – when they see someone with pom poms cheering them on along the way.”
The SummeRun and Walk for Ovarian Cancer takes place July 21 at the corner of Madison and Minor streets in Seattle. Registration ($30) begins at that location at 6:30 a.m. For more information go HERE.
