By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
For the third year in a row, the Teal Ribbon Run and Walk will return to the village of Minoa on Saturday, Sept. 24, and hundreds of participants will fill the streets with teal in order to bring awareness and raise money for ovarian cancer research.
The Teal Ribbon Run and Walk benefits Hope for Heather, a Liverpool-based organization dedicated to helping women with ovarian cancer and raising awareness about the disease. The nonprofit was started by Frieda Weeks to honor the memory of her daughter, Heather.
In November of 2008, Heather lost her battle with an aggressive form of colon cancer at age 24. Before her passing, Heather worked for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, making it her mission to eradicate the disease. After her death, her mother started Hope for Heather to carry on that mission.
The Teal Ribbon Run and Walk is in its eighth year, but moved the venue to the village of Minoa after Trustee Eric Christensen, who has been involved with the run, approached the committee about moving the run to the village. The run is held on the same day at the Minoa Festival in the Park, which will also be held at noon on Sept. 24.
“It’s hard to believe we are eight years in to this event. It’s exciting to see the growth of the event and awareness about ovarian cancer becoming prominent,” said Weeks. “We hope to have 800 to 1,000 this year participating.”
The event includes both a 5K run, a 3K family walk and new this year is a Teal Dash for kids 12 and under. The Teal Dash will begin at 9:15 a.m., the 5K will at 10 p.m. and the 3K at 10:10 a.m. at Lewis Park, South Main St., Minoa. Online and mail-in registration for the event is $30 until Sept. 16, $35 until Sept. 22 and $40 the day of the event.
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and the village of Minoa will hang teal banners in the village as a way to bring awareness to the disease.
“We have been embraced by the village [Minoa], and its involvement has created a bigger spotlight on the cause. We cannot express how grateful we are that this beautiful little village has helped to create a larger platform for ovarian cancer,” said Weeks.
To learn more about the Teal Ribbon Run and Walk and to register, go to hopeforheather.org/TealRibbonRun.htm.
