Misson Statement
To educate women to recognize the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer and acquire the knowledge to seek evaluation and treatment by qualified professionals.
History
In September 2002, Marianne Mills and I attended the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance conference in Washington, DC. It was at this point that we realized how very little the general public knew about the signs, symptoms and risk factors of ovarian cancer. Marianne is an ovarian cancer survivor and I was a nurse in an oncology office. We decided to unite our efforts to educate women to these risks factors. We thought we could just visit church groups or book clubs, etc. and talk to them! We designed and sent out over 500 pamphlets and letters of introduction to doctors in the south central Pa. area and were surprised by the response we received! As a result a Gynecological Conference was held at York Hospital in the spring of 2004 to address all gyn. malignancies. We had no idea it would grow to be what it is today! Our mission is to educate women to recognize the signs, symptoms and risk factors of ovarian cancer and acquire the knowledge to seek evaluation and treatment by qualified professionals.
Eighteen months later we obtained our non-profit status as a 501 (c)(3) organization and became a Partner-Member of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. We speak to many different organizations, church groups, health fairs, etc. on average of once a month. Our primary goal is to focus on the front line of care - the primary care physicians. It is these doctors who women see at the onset of their problems.
We have established two yearly lectureships, the Diana Bittner Memorial Lecture that is held in September, and the Clarabeth Grossman Lecture that will be held in the spring to the Family Practice, Ob/Gyn and Internal Medicine physicians during a combined Grand Rounds at York Hospital in York, Pa. Additionally, we have established the Gwen Walton Scholarship that will be presented on Residents day for an outstanding paper written on a gyn cancer. All three of these women were founding members of R.OA.R! who lost their battles with ovarian cancer.
We raise money through fundraisers held in September during National Ovarian Cancer Awareness month; our annual 5K Walk/Run held yearly during May; grants and mailings. For the first two years, the Walk/Run had been spearheaded by Clarabeth Grossman and her family. Sadly, Clarabeth lost her battle with ovarian cancer on May 27, 2005 at the young age of 55. Her daughter, Stephanie is now the chair person for this huge event! Due to Clarabeth and her family’s commitment to our cause, this yearly event will be known as the Clarabeth Grossman 5K Walk/Run for Ovarian Cancer Awareness.
On Sept. 6, 2008 will we hold our first R.O.A.R! on the Floor, a dance event to benefit ovarian cancer awareness. Please visit our website at www.roaronthefloor.org for more info.
We continue to publish our newsletters, via email, biannually, and send out ovarian cancer awareness posters and information to all area doctors during September for Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. All of this is accomplished through donations and individual grants we receive. Our staff is made up of volunteers who spend endless hours working on these events. During the winter of 2005 a cross stitch quilt of seventy two 8” squares was made representing women who have/had ovarian cancer. It was done by women with ovarian cancer, loved ones or friends and in some instances, strangers. It is currently on display in the new Womens Center at the Apple Hill Medical Campus in York, Pa. Please take a minute to look at these and read the story behind them. Just click on the "Quilt" tab.