VILLAGE OF MINOA – To once again raise awareness of ovarian cancer, Minoa officials and area residents took turns symbolically rolling teal paint onto a stretch of North Main Street’s center stripe Monday morning.
The teal line also marks the approach of the Teal Ribbon Run/Walk, which has been moved from September to the spring this year.
Set for this Saturday, May 14, the main race course for the event begins in Lewis Park and leads through the village’s neighborhoods before circling back to the starting spot. Now in its 14th year, the fundraiser has taken place in Minoa for eight years after being held in Syracuse’s Inner Harbor and the Willow Bay area of Onondaga Lake Park.
From the beginning, the local nonprofit Hope for Heather has been the organization putting on the event.
“Any time that we can put a spotlight on this cancer is important because women need to know the warning signs and the symptoms,” said Frieda Weeks, one of the founding members of the charity. “It allows us to talk about the disease and to honor our survivors and our fallen angels. Hopefully the more awareness we create, the more lives we save and the more money we can raise for research and support.”
In name and in mission, the organization honors the memory of Weeks’ daughter Heather, who left a career in dance to work on behalf of the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. In November 2008, she passed away at the age of 24 from a form of colon cancer.
“Somewhere up there she’s very proud,” her mother said. “She was a strong and powerful advocate and champion for any cause she believed in. She was willing to go the extra mile to do whatever it took to always do the right thing and get the job done.”
Prior to painting the line in front of the village hall, Mayor Bill Brazill mentioned that he had witnessed growing numbers under the ribbon run’s ovarian cancer survivor tent year to year.
“That’s what it’s all about—to survive this terrible disease and to find a cure,” Brazill said.
To register for the live and virtual events ranging in distance from 3Ks to 10Ks, visit runsignup.com/TealRibbonRunWalk. More information about the organization Hope for Heather can be found at hopeforheather.org.
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