MINOA — The local nonprofit supporting ovarian cancer research Hope for Heather held its annual Hope & Heels Fashion Show and Brunch on Sunday, Nov. 12.
Purposely held close to the anniversary of the passing of the organization’s namesake, Heather Weeks, on November 14, 2008, the show took place at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown to give focus to making a positive impact in honor of her memory.
Though Heather succumbed to a battle with colon cancer, she worked for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and was always fighting for a cure for the latter type of cancer.
At the most recent fashion show fundraiser for the cause, during which about 30 models walked the runway outfitted in clothing provided by Macy’s and smaller local boutiques, the Village of Minoa was presented with the “It Takes a Village” Award and Minoa Mayor Bill Brazill was given the Shining Star Mayor Award to show gratitude for support shown to Hope for Heather.
For 10 years straight, the village has hosted the Teal Ribbon Run/Walk for the Liverpool-based nonprofit.
Before that partnership started, the village board had been looking for a running or biking event to host in Minoa, and coincidentally Trustee Eric Christensen met Heather’s parents and the founding members of the organization, Frieda and Gary Weeks, at a meeting about race events.
Hope for Heather was previously holding the race at Syracuse’s Inner Harbor and the Willow Bay part of Onondaga Lake Park, but they were looking for a new place for it due to renovations happening at the Inner Harbor.
From there, Christensen and the Weeks “hit it off” as Brazill said, and the run was relocated to Minoa’s Lewis Park, with Christensen heading up the coordination of it every year on the village’s part.
“That’s really how everything started, and since then, it’s just had its own momentum,” Brazill said. “With it being in Minoa, all the people in our village accepted it with open arms. It’s fantastic to see everyone come together for it.”
The Teal Ribbon Run/Walk was previously held in September on the same day as Minoa’s fall festival, but because of the amount of people signing up and how big it has grown, it was moved to May to start the summer season.
Brazill said people look forward to the run/walk every year and participate either by lacing up their running shoes, giving out water or popsicles to the registrants, or setting up instruments and playing music next to the race course.
Brazill said the biggest thing he looks at is the ever-increasing number of people sitting under the ovarian cancer survivors tent at the event.
“That’s really what it’s all about—people being able to beat this terrible disease,” Brazill said. “It’s a wonderful thing to see that survivors tent growing like it is.”
Frieda Weeks, the president of Hope for Heather, said that there’s a “wonderful spirit” in the village of Minoa and that local businesses like Trappers II Pizza & Pub, Spill the Tea Cafe and USA Racing have all lent their support for the run.
Leading up to the race every year, a section of the center stripe of North Main Street in front of Minoa’s village hall is painted a vibrant teal to signify the color of the ribbons worn for ovarian cancer awareness.
“The village has really embraced us, and it’s been a wonderful home for the Teal Ribbon Run,” Frieda said. “The community, the mayor and the board members have just been very supportive of the event.”
Brazill was presented the Shining Star award in reference to his catchphrase that Minoa is always “shining brightly” and for his help in supporting the Teal Ribbon Run, including the formation of a flash mob before this year’s race.
Alyssa Blazina, a volunteer with Hope for Heather, was the one who handed Brazill the award at the Nov. 12 fashion show. She was also Brazill’s collaborator for the flash mob and the one who came up with the idea, inspired by the fact that Heather was an avid dancer.
Brazill and Blazina practiced in the village courtroom and recorded a breakdown of the choreography to secretly send to those who registered for the ribbon run. On race day, the two of them and a group of dozens of others joined together to dance to “Canned Heat” by Jamiroquai.
Frieda and Gary, who had no knowledge that the flash mob was being orchestrated, were naturally surprised, with Frieda calling the gesture “amazing.”
“I was more than happy to do something like that for Frieda and Gary because they’re just such wonderful people and they’ve dedicated their lives to finding the cure for ovarian cancer in honor of their daughter,” Brazill said.
In the ballroom of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, which was sold out for the fashion show, Brazill said he and his wife, Cyndee, sat at a table of eight with four ovarian cancer survivors—a sight that he said “warmed the heart.”
The fashion show also included 60 silent auction baskets with items like expense-paid trip tickets, perfumes, lottery boards and designer bags.
The same day, Hope for Heather culminated a year of fundraising with their donation of a $60,000 research gift to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, where a specific researcher can be chosen so it’s known exactly where the money is going.
Founded in 2009, Hope for Heather encourages women to be proactive by talking to their doctors about symptoms they’re feeling and by looking into their family histories.
The organization also hands out tens of thousands of pieces of literature year to year and, as Frieda said, the mission is to raise awareness, find a definitive test for ovarian cancer, and inspire with hope so that more lives can be saved.
