Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance

My name is Asha Spitzer and I am seventeen years old.

I am a dedicated year-round swimmer for Orinda Aquatics and a junior coach for Sleepy Hollow Swim Club. 

Starting three years ago, I decided I wanted to use my swimming to impact the lives of others. This idea began as “Asha’s Swim for Hope” in 2022, and this will be the fourth year continuing this mission.

This September, for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I will swim the Golden Gate Bridge swim. This is an early morning, open water, one-and-a-half-mile swim through the San Francisco Bay. This endeavor was inspired by many brave people in my life who have been impacted by cancer.

The goal of this swim is to both fundraise and raise awareness for ovarian cancer. For this swim, I would like to raise $2000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. OCRA works to cure ovarian cancer, advocate for patients, and support survivors.

Additionally, awareness is especially important for ovarian cancer because early detection can save lives.

Ovarian cancer attacks the ovaries but can often go undetected because of its subtle symptoms and a lack of a specific screening method. I hope to spread awareness of ovarian cancer so we can help women take preventative measures against higher stages of the disease. This year alone, 20,890 women in the United States received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. About two-thirds of them will not receive adequate care.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth deadliest cancer among women in the US, but remains one of the least widely recognized.

Together, we can work to bring these numbers down.

Please donate to help impact the lives of women everywhere.

Common Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:

Bloating

Pelvic or abdominal (belly) pain

Trouble eating or feeling full quickly

Urinary symptoms (such as urgency or frequency)

Risk factors include a family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer or a family history of carrying the BRCA gene mutation.

For further information reference

American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/about.html

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance:

https://ocrahope.org/

On May 15, 2025 I drove down to Atlanta with my Mom to move into my apartment for my Summer internship. On the way, we listened to a Joe Rogan podcast with Jeremy Renner. After a horrific accident, he went through several rounds of rehab. The one quote he said that got him through it all was “What’s the alternative?”. This quote resonated with my Mom and I. Twelve days later I got the news that after over a year of remission, my Mom’s ovarian cancer had returned. It was demoralizing to think about her going through chemotherapy all over again. I called her that night and she had that same positive attitude Jeremy Renner had: “What’s the alternative?”. She will fight this battle and once again beat cancer. This inspired me to push my limits to show my Mom that no one fights alone. I have been training for the San Francisco marathon on July 27th and I am starting a fundraiser where all proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA). Throughout training, I have debated quitting, making excuses, and not following through with it all. But here I am after all; What’s the alternative?

With love & gratitude,

Brendan K. Wood

Full-Circle Festival, a handmade holiday gift show and sale, will again host a fundraiser benefiting the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) in memory of Mar Vista potter and activist Linda Mechanic, our teacher and friend, who died of the Ovarian Cancer at age 50.

Linda, like so many other of the disease's victims, was an inspiration to all who knew her.

...If only her illness had been diagnosed sooner.

...If only there had been effective treatments to save her.

We join all those hoping for a cure, and believe OCRA, with its emphasis on research to find ways to identify, prevent and treat this silent killer, is part of the solution.

Please help us raise at least $2500 by January 1, 2024!

About OCRA

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance Results

Charity Navigator

About Ovarian Cancer

Symptoms And Detection

About Full-Circle Festival

About Full-Circle Pottery

Hi everyone! Happy holidays!

In the beginning of November, I discovered that I have a very large, potentially cancerous tumor growing on my right ovary. I named the tumor Cassandra, after the Taylor Swift song duh, and I’ll be undergoing surgery to remove it on December 20! In order to cope with the soul-crushing anxiety that I could either have ovarian cancer, might have to get a full hysterectomy, both, or none of the above, I’d like to focus some of that nervous energy on something positive: a fundraiser! Please donate whatever you are able to. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.

Thank you! And fuck cancer!

My name is Asha Spitzer and I am sixteen years old. 

I am a dedicated year-round swimmer for Orinda Aquatics and a junior coach for Sleepy Hollow Swim Club. 

Starting two years ago, I decided I wanted to use my swimming to impact the lives of others. This idea began as “Asha’s Swim for Hope” in 2022, and this will be the third year continuing this mission.

This September I will be swimming the Golden Gate Bridge swim. This is an early morning, open water, one-and-a-half-mile swim through the San Francisco Bay. This endeavor was inspired by many brave people in my life who have been impacted by cancer.

The goal of this swim is to both fundraise and raise awareness for ovarian cancer. For this swim, I would like to raise $1000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. OCRA works to cure ovarian cancer, advocate for patients, and support survivors.

Additionally, awareness is especially important for ovarian cancer because early detection can save lives.

Ovarian cancer attacks the ovaries but can often go undetected because of its subtle symptoms and a lack of a specific screening method. I want to spread recognition of ovarian cancer so we can help women take preventative measures against higher stages of the disease. This year alone, 19,710 in the United States will receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. About two-thirds of them will not receive adequate care.

Together, we can work to bring these numbers down.

Please donate to help impact the lives of women everywhere.

Additionally, I wanted to highlight a new nonprofit, the Ovarian Cancer Equity Mission. This emerging nonprofit is working towards “...increasing awareness and funding for ovarian cancer research, accelerating the development of alternative therapies due to the disease's resistance to standard treatments, and providing access to care for under-resourced communities.” This charity is important to me because the creators are dedicated to creating equitable care for women of all different communities. If you are interested in checking out their website follow this link: https://www.ovariancancerequity.org/

Common Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:

Bloating

Pelvic or abdominal (belly) pain

Trouble eating or feeling full quickly

Urinary symptoms (such as urgency or frequency)

Risk factors include a family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer or a family history of carrying the BRCA gene mutation.

For further information reference

American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/about.html

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance:

https://ocrahope.org/

While we’re beyond excited to see all of you for the wedding, we’re also thinking of someone whose presence will be dearly missed that weekend. My mom, Vicki passed away after a long fight with Ovarian Cancer in August of 2022, and honestly it’s still hard thinking about the fact that she won’t be at our wedding. She loved Kelsey and was thrilled when she learned that I was going to propose. If she was still with us, I just know that she’d be both an emotional wreck and the life of the party the whole weekend.

In her memory, we're raising money to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us.

– David

More information about Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance: Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) is the largest global organization dedicated to fighting ovarian cancer. OCRA advances research to prevent, treat and defeat ovarian cancer, supports women and their families before, during and beyond diagnosis, and works with all levels of government to ensure ovarian cancer is a priority.

Hi, we are Brockport Field Hockey and September is Ovarian Cancer awareness month. We are hosting our third "Turn the Turf Teal" game on 09/25/2024 and dedicating the game to help spread awareness. This cause truly means a lot to us as one of our alumni lost her mother to Ovarian Cancer in 2019, while she was a member of Brockport Field Hockey. It would be greatly appreciated if you were able to show support to this cause and the women battling ovarian cancer. We thank you in advance for all of your support in our fight against Ovarian Cancer and any donations made!

On June 22, 2024, Olivia Moluchi will be running 100-kilometers in loving memory of Dee-Ann Sexsmith; adoring mother to Stella and Jack Sexsmith, and wife to Dan Sexsmith. After a courageous battle against a rare type of ovarian cancer, Dee passed in January of this year. Together, we will be fundraising this journey to support the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) as the leading organization in the world fighting ovarian cancer.

I’m Stella, her daughter. Among the invaluable lessons my mother taught me in life, the most important was to never give up. Everyone who was lucky enough to meet her understood that it was never an option for her. Throughout her whole life, she pushed to be the greatest she could be and to persevere when things got rough, whether that was her career, her health, or motherhood (which she was the best at). After her initial diagnosis and the hurt it caused, a day never went by without her warm smile ensuring everything will be okay.

Our backstory. Olivia and I grew up down the street from each other at a very young age, and from that time on, we’ve been an inseparable team. Our dynamic is the rawest form of introvert-meet-extrovert and the memories we have together will last a lifetime. My mom saw Olivia as one of her own and always seized the opportunity to make us feel like sisters. Throughout the years, we have always been there to encourage each other along on the tough days and have each other’s back. Dee showed us that sometimes you simply need to know that someone has confidence in you.

I’m Olivia, the best friend. Embarking on this 100-kilometer run is not merely a physical endeavour; it’s a testament to the profound impact Dee-Ann had on my life and the lives of countless others. From educating me on all things music to eagerly listening to whatever new hobby I decided to try out next, her presence encapsulated everything I wanted to be as a person and more. From a very young age, she showed Stella and I the importance of being true to ourselves and never giving up, no matter what the world throws our way. With each step, I will be honouring her indomitable spirit and determination, qualities that resonate as an inspiration for women everywhere.

By rallying support for this cause, we're not just raising funds; we're igniting a movement fueled by love and admiration. Together, we can turn this journey into a celebration of her kindness, resilience, and bravery.

For more information, or if you're curious on how to get involved with this event, please contact Stella & Olivia through this web page.

My name is Asha Spitzer and I am fifteen years old. I am a dedicated year-round swimmer for Orinda Aquatics and a junior coach for Sleepy Hollow Swim Club. Starting last year, I decided I wanted to use my swimming to impact the lives of others.

This Saturday, August 26, 2023, I will be swimming the Alcatraz Escape From the Rock swim. This is an early morning, open water, one-and-a-half-mile swim through the San Francisco bay. This endeavor was inspired by many brave people in my life who have been impacted by cancer.

For this swim, I would like to raise $1000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. OCRA works to cure ovarian cancer, advocate for patients, and support survivors.

Ovarian cancer attacks the ovaries but can often go undetected because of its subtle symptoms and a lack of a specific screening method. This makes awareness and research of this cancer especially important. I want to use this event as not only a fundraiser, but also an awareness event, to spread recognition over ovarian cancer so we can help women take preventative measures against higher stages of the disease. This year, 19,710 in the United States will receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Together, we can work to bring this number down.

Please donate to help impact the lives of women everywhere.

Common Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:

Bloating

Pelvic or abdominal (belly) pain

Trouble eating or feeling full quickly

Urinary symptoms (such as urgency or frequency)

Risk factors include a family history of ovarian, breast, or colorectal cancer or a family history of carrying the BRCA gene mutation.

For further information reference

American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/about.html

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance:

https://ocrahope.org/

Hello, my name is Brendan Lavarra, and I am a sophomore attending Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I am currently enrolled in a management class here at Muhlenberg. For my final project, I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity given to me and fundraise for something that has affected my family and thousands of others around the United States. Any donation is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and have a blessed day.

email: [email redacted]

My name is Asha Spitzer. I am 14 years old, and I am in my first year of high school. I have been a passionate and competitive swimmer since I was five years old. This year, I have decided to use my swimming to impact the lives of others.

This Saturday, August 20, 2022, I will be swimming the Alcatraz Escape From the Rock swim. This is an early morning, open water, one-and-a-half-mile swim through the San Francisco bay. This endeavor was inspired by many brave people in my life who have been impacted by cancer. Most recently, ovarian cancer has affected a person connected with a swim team I love.

For this swim, I would like to raise $1000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. OCRA works to cure ovarian cancer, advocate for patients, and support survivors. Ovarian cancer attacks the ovaries but can often go undetected because of its subtle symptoms. This makes awareness and research of this cancer especially important.

I was inspired to raise money to support ovarian cancer research because of a courageous and caring person in my life affected by this disease. She bravely battled this disease while volunteering her time at swim meets and cheering children to victory.

Now it is my time to support her victory.

Please donate to help impact the lives of women everywhere.