Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness tees up to save lives at annual golf outing July 30
The Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness organization will host its sixth annual golf tournament and dinner on Monday, July 30, at Boulder Ridge Country Club in Lake in the Hills.
Fox 32 weekend news anchor Rafer Weigel rejoins co-chairs Carolyn Ascher, owner of ME Project Management and Kurt Klepitsch, veterinarian and owner of Gateway Veterinary Clinic, as host and honorary chair.
The benefit will raise funds to support the nonprofit's ongoing awareness campaign surrounding the silent symptoms of ovarian cancer as well as its Veterinary Outreach Program initiatives. Its initiatives include support of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center's current program harnessing canines' olfactory prowess to "sniff out" ovarian cancer.
The fun-filled July golf event will be emceed by 95.9 The River's Scott Mackay and include a performance by Nashville recording artist Ashley Gaines.
The festivities begin with lunch prior to the shotgun start at noon that will include the national anthem sung by Gaines. A postgame dinner will feature a silent auction and live performance by Gaines as well.
"The Penn Vet Working Dog Center is doing phenomenal work in its efforts to detect ovarian cancer at its earliest stage which underscores our unique awareness campaign that partners with the veterinary community," says Vallie Szymanski, executive vice president of Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness. "Early detection is key to survival with this disease and through money raised at events like the golf outing, OCSA is able to continue its mission in providing people with the resources to catch the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer."
The unique Veterinary Outreach Program embraces a One Health philosophy, partnering with professionals in the medical and veterinary community, the Illinois Veterinary Medical Association; Illinois Department of Health; the One Health Commission and the American Veterinary Medical Association to inform urban and rural veterinarians, veterinary clinicians, and veterinary discipline students about ovarian cancer and its silent symptoms.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, over 80 percent of veterinarians graduating today are female. This increases the possibility of a personal connection to the disease and a viable tie to the purpose of the Veterinary Outreach Program.
Statistics show that ovarian cancer is diagnosed in one of every 55 women and is the number one gynecologic cancer killer. More than 22,000 women are diagnosed with this cancer every year and 15,000 women die. Reportedly, when ovarian cancer is diagnosed and treated in its earliest stages the survival rate is over 90 percent.
The Veterinary Outreach Program exponentially spreads awareness surrounding the silent symptoms of this disease through the conversations pet owners have with their trusted veterinarians, important public health protectors.
The sixth annual golf tournament and dinner will be Monday, July 30, at Boulder Ridge Country Club, 350 Boulder Drive, Lake in the Hills.
Registration begins at 10 a.m., followed by lunch at 11 a.m. and shotgun start at noon. The dinner and silent auction begin at 4:30 p.m.
Cost is $200 or $750 per foursome. It includes golf, lunch and dinner. Dinner-only tickets are $50.
Deadline is Friday, July 27.
To purchase tickets, visit ovariancancersymptomawareness.givezooks.com.
The sponsors are: Acclaim Sign Company; Billco Corporation; Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants; Gateway Veterinary Clinic; Joe Cotton Ford; ME Project Management; Personal Touch Realty; Henry Schein Animal Health; Neri Landscape Maintenance Inc.; and Staver Law.
Additional sponsors are welcome. Contact Vallie Szymanski, OCSA executive vice president, at vallie.szymanski@ocsachicago.org for information.
The Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness Organization is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Donations are deductible as a charitable gift.