Rhode Island Ovarian Cancer Alliance established

CRANSTON – After an eight-year partnership with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, a local family has separated from the national organization to form its own nonprofit, the Rhode Island Ovarian Cancer Alliance.
“We greatly appreciated our relationship with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, but by forming our own organization, we’ll be able to make a greater local impact through our awareness, education and support services efforts,” said Donna Ricci, president of the Rhode Island Ovarian Cancer Alliance.
Ricci and John Morris were instrumental in the creation of the Rhode Island chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition in 2007 to honor the memory of Morris’ daughter, Jessica Morris, who was diagnosed with Stage IIIC ovarian cancer at age 18. Jessica lost her battle with the disease in 2008 at 20 years old.
Through their unwavering volunteering and fundraising efforts, family and friends of Jessica’s have continued to emulate her passion to raise awareness and provide education about the symptoms of ovarian cancer, particularly because there are no pre-screening tests to detect the disease early.
Now operating as the Rhode Island Ovarian Cancer Alliance, the new organization is eager to implement new initiatives to reach more people, including efforts to increase presence in doctor and OB/GYN offices, educating youth through school presentations and establishing a survivors’ education series with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance where survivors speak with medical students about the disease’s early symptoms. The organization is also hoping to expand the support it offers to survivors, such as connecting them with specialized in-home CAN care and other services.
“Ovarian cancer is not always at the forefront when a woman presents with symptoms,” said Ricci. “But as the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers, it is imperative that we increase awareness and education – we are here to make a real difference in the community and know exactly what people are going through. Jessica would be so proud of what we’ve accomplished and what we’ll accomplish in the future.”
According to recent research, one in 71 women will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime, and approximately 15,000 people die annually from the disease. While most cases are diagnosed in the later stages of the disease when a patient’s prognosis is poor, if detected and treated early when the cancer is confined to the ovary, the five-year survival rate is greater than 90 percent.
The Rhode Island Ovarian Cancer Alliance is run by an all-volunteer board of directors, and all funds raised by the organization go directly to support awareness and education efforts and support services. Since 2008 the group has raised more than $700,000 through its annual walk, held in September.
For more information about the Rhode Island Ovarian Cancer Alliance, visit www.riovarian.org.

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