This year will be a special MOCA HOM Teal Strides. On October 18, 2022 I will celebrate ten years since my ovarian cancer diagnosis. I am filled with gratitude and awe that many years later I remain with no evidence of disease. In addition to celebrating my ten-year survival, I will be holding in memory my dear friend, Talicia, who passed away on February 11, 2021. Her tenacious spirit inspires me to work raising money for research to find an early detection test with the hopes of finding these cancers earlier and saving many women from Talicia’s circumstance of being diagnosed at stage 4 when her ovarian cancer was first discovered when she was 18 years old.

Last spring I was invited to join MOCA’s board and it has been an honor to work with a remarkable staff and fellow board members. MOCA is a nonprofit that in the words of national cancer researchers, “really hits about its weight.” In 2022 MOCA, with a full-time staff of 4 people, was able to award 1.1 million dollars directly to researchers. At our annual meeting in May, the MOCA community heard from faculty at the UMN and Mayo talk about exciting work in searching for detection tests and for an actual cure. When you support the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, you help fund this critical research.

As many of you may know, Talicia was awarded a MOCA Dream Award in 2017. With these funds, Talicia and I took the trip of a lifetime with our chosen sisters, Alycia and Anna. This program is truly a remarkable celebration of life. And while I am grateful beyond description for this gift, I want everyone to be aware that the MOCA Dream Awards are funded completely by an independent foundation, established in honor of a woman who died of ovarian cancer. So, your support of my ten-year celebration and to honor my wonderful Talicia, goes to funding the search for improved treatments and a cure!

Please donate what you can, and please join us for my ten-year celebration on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Rosland Park in Edina! 

With love,

Megan