More than 7,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in the UK. Unfortunately, two-thirds of women are diagnosed too late, when the cancer has become more difficult to treat. However, many organisations are working to do something about it, especially this month. Every March, we honour Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month; it’s a time for supporters and charities alike to come together to raise money and awareness and to improve the diagnosis and outcome for women fighting ovarian cancer.
In this post, we highlight three charities that are making a difference: Ovacome, Target Ovarian Cancer, and Ovarian Cancer Action. We share several ways that you can get involved to support these charities during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and beyond. Together, let’s work to shine light on ovarian cancer and improve the health and wellbeing of the women in our lives—including our mothers, daughters, sisters, colleagues, and friends.
Ovacome
Ovacome aims to overcome ovarian cancer. For 27 years, the charity has been providing trustworthy information, reducing isolation, and supporting people who have been diagnosed with the disease as well as the friends, family, and healthcare professionals who care for them. Ovacome has supported more than 17,000 people via its resources and forum; it has also answered more than 3,300 support calls and messages. Ovacome also runs a Survivors Teaching Students programme to educate specialists on the signs, symptoms, and experiences of people with ovarian cancer.
- Get involved for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Get physical for a good cause with Ovacome’s Ovarian Cancer Teal Walk. It’s a virtual community challenge to raise funds for the charity’s ovarian cancer support services. Just set a personal walking challenge (daily, weekly, or monthly), and set up your own fundraising page on Ovacome’s website.
- You can also establish your own Facebook Fundraiser and follow several creative suggestions and tips from Ovacome. In general, social media is a powerful tool for charities to raise awareness of critical issues and generate funds for research and support services. For more, please download our Guide to Facebook Challenge Fundraising.
Target Ovarian Cancer
Target Ovarian Cancer targets the key issues that are critical to stop ovarian cancer from devastating lives. The charity works with everyone affected by ovarian cancer—from patients to healthcare professionals to government officials and the public—to help diagnose ovarian cancer faster and earlier, invest in more targeted treatments, and offer support to the women and families impacted by the disease.
Target Ovarian Cancer is the only ovarian cancer charity working across all four nations of the UK. In 2022-23, the charity’s support services were used more than 16,000 times; it also trained more than 4,000 healthcare professionals to increase knowledge and recognition of ovarian cancer.
- Get involved for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: This month, Target Ovarian Cancer invites everyone to “pop the kettle on and join us for Elevenses” in recognition of the eleven women that die from ovarian cancer every day in the UK. The Elevenses campaign asks supporters to gather with friends and family at 11 AM throughout the month to raise money and offer support to those affected by ovarian cancer. You can plan a coffee catchup, host a bake sale, hang posters, anything! Just sign up and you’ll receive an Elevenses pack with cake toppers, a collection box, banners, helpful resources like a press release template, and more.
- Looking for a physical challenge? Consider Target Ovarian Cancer’s Run 11 campaign. It takes place on Sunday, 24 March in Hyde Park and you can choose from a 5.5 K or 11 K race. Learn more and register here.
Ovarian Cancer Action
Ovarian Cancer Action (OCA) believes that women don’t just deserve better, they deserve the best. The charity is committed to accelerating progress in three main areas: preventing ovarian cancer, diagnosing it early, and developing effective, personalised treatments. Since its inception in 2005, Ovarian Cancer Action has been the largest sole funder of ovarian cancer research in the UK. For more, including a history of Ovarian Cancer Action over the years, please download the charity’s annual report.
- Get involved for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: The charity’s flagship fundraising event is Walk In Her Name. It calls on supporters to walk 100 K in March to celebrate the women we love and honour the memory of the women we’ve lost. To join, just sign up and set up a Facebook fundraising page. You’ll receive a fundraising pack with a special t-shirt and ideas on how to make the most of the walk.
- You can also “fundraise your way” and sign up for any number of challenge events, including the 2024 London Marathon. In return, you’ll receive a free OCA running vest or shirt, fundraising materials, and advice and support.
- Are you planning a wedding or anniversary this year, perhaps your own or to help a friend or family member? Why not make it an event to remember and encourage guests to donate to OCA in lieu of a wedding gift. Or you could provide special OCA pin badges instead of wedding favours.
Every two hours, a woman dies of ovarian cancer, and this must change. We applaud the impact of Ovacome, Target Ovarian Cancer, and Ovarian Cancer Action. We hope this post inspires you to get involved with these charities during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and beyond.
How else will you make a difference? Please reach out anytime to share your ideas and see how Rocket Charities can help you achieve your own fundraising goals for the year ahead.