Synchronized 5K Dog Walk And Fun Run Events Support Local Ovarian Cancer Awareness Program

NILES, Ill. - Sept. 1, 2015 - PRLog -- The Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness Organization (OCSA), led by executive director Vallie Szymanski and board president Marcy Twardak, invites cause supporters and their canine friends to walk together to raise money and awareness on Sunday, Sept. 13.  Two 5K Dog Walk and Fun Run events, one in St. Charles and one in Niles, will mark OCSA’s fifth anniversary.  Each steps off after opening ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. and details can be found at www.ovariancancersymptomawareness.org/events.

OCSA's unique awareness campaign is designed to share the silent symptoms of this deadly disease in an innovative program called the Veterinary Outreach Program (VOP). The late co-founder, Susan Roman, believed her own dog alerted her to the cancer which eventually took her life and the idea to tie dogs and this mission together evolved into a unique awareness campaign. The VOP now partners with veterinarians around the state who also spread awareness about the silent symptoms of ovarian cancer through symptom checklists provided by OCSA. To further solidify a One Health approach, OCSA also supports the Penn Vet Working Dog Center in its mission to train dogs to ‘sniff out’ ovarian cancer odorants in order to create an early diagnostic test for the disease.

In Niles, an impressive lineup of co-chairs has been created for this new event including Rita McGovern, Mary O’Connor, Beth O’Malley, Sue Rose, and Kathy Taylor.  The day’s events begin with a warmup led by Northside Jazzercize instructor Claret Oulvey at 9:15 a.m. before opening ceremonies emceed by the FlashGirls, Kelly & Dee, from WJOL-AM 1340.  A color guard with Cadette Troop 40651 from St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge and Troop 955 from Edison Park Lutheran Church helps open the day along with the National Anthem performed by Sarah Gorecki.  Paws Chicago will bring adoptable pets and share information about adoption. And the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 Stewards will demonstrate a breathing apparatus used in a special Canadian study which uses dogs to detect bio-chemical markers in breath samples provided by Local 2 members and their families, and submitted for testing.

The event will be held at Bunker Hill Forest Preserve, Milwaukee and Harts Road on Sunday, September 13. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m, while opening ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m. prior to the 10 a.m. step off.

Special treats which will raise additional funds for OCSA will feature famous ‘dogs’ from Doug Sohn, “Hot Doug,” Dennis Fearon from Sprinkles Ice Cream Shoppe, and homemade doggie biscuits.

Funds raised support the VOP and an internship at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center’s program training dogs to ‘sniff out’ cancer odorants in tissue and plasma affected by the disease in hopes of creating a new diagnostic test for early detection.

Each year, over 20,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and approximately 14,000 women die from the disease. When ovarian cancer is diagnosed and treated in its earliest stages, the survival rate is over 90 percent. OCSA’s mission is to expand public awareness about the symptoms of ovarian cancer in an effort to contribute to the early detection of this deadly disease, and by doing so, save lives.

The program is supported by key partners in the medical community, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the One Health Commission.

COST: Adults $35; Students $25; Children $20; Scouts $10; Dogs $10 (includes commemorative t-shirt designed by Chicago artist Andrea Jablonski for walkers and teal bandanas for participating dogs)

TICKETS: www.ovariancancersymptomawareness.org/events

About the Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness Organization (OCSA)

OCSA is a Section 501 (c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2010 to educate women and their families about the silent symptoms of ovarian cancer and the need for early detection and treatment. Donations to OCSA are tax deductible as a charitable gift. For questions concerning tax deductibility, please consult a tax advisor. Follow the accomplishments and find key information about this cause on Facebook at OCSAChicago, on Twitter @ocsachicagoorg, or visit www.ovariancancersymptomawareness.org.