Ovarian cancer is a silent killer. It threatens the lives of thousands of women every year; and most insidious of all is its ability to go undetected leading to life-threatening results. A routine pap-smear cannot detect ovarian cancer. Dr. Michelle Abbo from La Jolla said, “if you are at high risk, meaning if someone in your immediate family has a history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer, see your doctor about possibly getting screened further with a pelvic ultrasound or a blood test called a CA-125. Also, do not ignore symptoms such as frequent urination, bloating, abdominal discomfort or indigestion. One should see a doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms or any other unusual symptoms.”
With the help of national efforts and two businesses in La Jolla, the disease is being brought to the spotlight.
The Clearity Foundation in collaboration with Orangetheory Fitness have their boxing gloves on and are prepared to give ovarian cancer a knock-out response. While Sherri Belanger, owner of Belle Siréne Salon is donating five-percent of all salon proceeds to the site Medgift.com. This is a free online fundraising site specific to patients and caregivers. Both businesses have made it their mission to raise awareness of ovarian cancer through fundraising efforts. They also both have a personal connection to the disease and are doing their best to shine a bright light on the darkness associated with ovarian cancer.
Founder of The Clearity Foundation, Laura Shawyer, is holding ‘All Out for Her,’ a fitness fundraiser that will take place across multiple San Diego Orangetheory Fitness studios in an effort to raise awareness and money to support women with ovarian cancer. All events will be held this Saturday. La Jolla’s Girard event begins at 11:15 a.m. There is a $24 registration fee, however, participant’s are welcome to donate more. The goal is to raise $10,000. The fundraiser will consist of an hour-long dynamic training session—including running, indoor rowing, and resistance training—all of which will be led by professional coaches. Individuals of all fitness levels are encouraged to register, and the money raised will help ovarian cancer patients receive genomic information to improve their treatment options.
“Every day, ovarian cancer patients push themselves through physical, mental and emotional challenges to overcome their disease. The All Out for Her event is both inspired by and in support of this sheer, unyielding determination,” said La Jolla resident, Laura Shawver, Ph.D, Founder of The Clearity Foundation and ovarian cancer survivor. “This is a chance for everyone to go all out for women who have been affected by ovarian cancer.”
Cancer researcher and Orangetheory fitness member since 2013 Dr. Laura Shawver founded The Clearity Foundation after concluding her own treatment for ovarian cancer. The Clearity Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides women access to precision medicine technologies to find the best treatment options for their cancer. In providing access to tumor blueprints—detailed profiles of the molecular characteristics of tumors—patients can receive specialized drug treatment recommendations particular to their cancer. This personalized approach offers patients crucial, detailed information that previous methods lacked.
Individuals can register for the All Out for Her event at each of the OTF locations online at https://www.razoo.com/team/. Visit www.clearityfoundation.org for additional information about tumor blueprints and ovarian cancer.
For Sherri Belanger, the owner of Belle Siréne Salon, ovarian cancer is a cause very close to her heart for it took the life of her dear friend Diem Brown in 2014. Belanger said it had been Brown’s third battle with the disease and despite the pain associated with it, Brown dreamed of creating a “gift-registry” for people facing health-related events. This dream turned into a free online-giving site called MedGift.com. This site allows people to help those they care about with finances, time, resources and online “touches” (email, blog postings, care giver needs, etc).
“I always called Diem my angel friend, as did so many of her close friends… for over 10 years Diem fought cancer and instead of feeling sorry for herself she took her experience to the public to show others fighting cancer that they were not alone. She blogged for People Magazine very openly about her cancer and life lessons,” Belanger shared. To me it’s about the awareness that MedGift.com exists!”
For Belanger, to share her salon with the community along with Brown’s legacy is an endearing combination. “My team of experienced hairstylists blow me away daily with their work! Every stylist has their specialties from creating sun kissed blondes, to precision haircutting, to safe hair extensions, to vivid coloring, the list goes on,” Belanger explained. Belle Sirène Salon is located at 7838 Herschel Ave. 858.454.1607 www.bellesirene.com
To donate directly to the salon’s page on MedGift please goto http://www.medgift.com/i-support-medgift