My name is Teresa Rosebrough and I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 47. It was quite a shock to me and my family. I felt I had no risk factors. I ate properly, was thin, ran 3 to 5 miles several times a week, and did not drink or smoke. I actually ran 5 miles just a few days before I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. It is no wonder that ovarian cancer is termed the “silent killer”.
The 5 year survival rate for ovarian cancer is only 30%. This rate has changed very little in the past 25 years. Although fewer women will become afflicted by ovarian cancer than breast cancer, current treatments are less effective and it remains the leading cause of death among gynecologic cancers.
After 3 years of chemotherapy and 3 major surgeries, I have yet to experience remission. Fortunately, God has given me the strength, perseverance, and the inspiration to make something positive from my situation. I made a decision to help women so that they may not have to endure the ordeal I continue to battle.
Because ovarian cancer receives little money for research and awareness, I decided to organize a 5K fundraiser. The money from the race was to go directly toward educating women about the signs and symptoms, as well as funding research to find better ways to treat this disease. That summer, my friends and I put together the first OC5K. It was a huge success with over 500 participants.
In the past 2 years, thanks to the generosity of our community, the OC5K has raised over $55,000. This year’s beneficiary is the Ovarian Cancer Institute (OCI) at Georgia Tech University. OCI is making advances toward better understanding this disease and developing novel ways to battle it without the horrible side affects of chemotherapy.
