A Letter from our President | Update on our Mission and Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Friends,

I hope this finds you well, or as well as can be expected during this challenging time. My wish for all of you is that you are feeling safe, and surrounded by caring community.

If there was a silver lining to a global pandemic — and I struggle to say that there is, but stay with me here — it may be this feeling of unity, that we are all in this together, from Paris to Melbourne to New Orleans. We’re all giving everything we’ve got to help our neighbors and get through this together. And we will get through it.

I also wanted to take a moment to acknowledge where we are now, as an organization. In short — we are still here, and our mission has not faltered in the slightest. Our programs and advocacy efforts continue and research moves forward. Please feel secure in knowing that no matter what, this will not change. What may change, however, are some of the details surrounding our events, and how our programs may be run. We’re sharing those updates below.

As always, if you have questions or thoughts, we want to hear from you. Thank you for being here with us, and please stay safe.

Warmly,

Audra L. Moran
President & CEO
Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance

Advocates Take to the Hill for Advocacy Day

OCRA’s Advocacy Day took place in early March, which allowed our dedicated crew of 65 survivors, caregivers and supporters to get our message out to 125 legislators on Capitol Hill just before the government’s attention turned to COVID-19. We’re so grateful to them, and to those who took the time to listen to their stories and experiences.

Ovarian Cancer National Conference Update

As of now, our National Conference “Uniting for Hope” is still scheduled for July in Washington DC. In the event that a physical conference won’t be possible, we’re working on a plan to take the largest conference for ovarian cancer information virtual! A decision will be made by early April, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate this together. Have questions? Please send us an email.

Patient Support Line is Open

If you’re an ovarian cancer patient and are feeling overwhelmed by the news, and unsure of what it means for you, remember that help is just a phone call away. You can call 212-268-1002 and ask to speak with our Patient Support team, who are available to chat Monday through Friday. If we misses your call, we will get back to you within 24 hours.

Connect with a Woman to Woman Mentor

Need a listening ear? Find connection through our Woman to Woman peer support program. It’s completely virtual and open to all gynecologic cancer patients. Just fill out a form telling us a little bit about yourself, and we’ll match you with a trained mentor who will offer the kind of support and comfort that can only be found in someone with their own experience with a gynecologic cancer. You’ll be able to chat with your mentor over the phone, through Skype, or email message.

Want to be a Woman to Woman mentor to someone newly diagnosed? Send us an email.

Ovarian Cancer Research Continues

As much of the scientific community rightly, and heroically, focuses on unlocking the mysteries of the novel coronavirus, we know that discoveries in ovarian cancer simply cannot wait! While the day-to-day life of OCRA researchers may have changed, we know that they remain — like us — devoted to advancing the cause. Stay on the lookout for profiles of some of the outstanding researchers we’re currently funding.

Events Update

To ensure the safety of our supporters across the country, and in keeping with federal and local guidelines, OCRA’s events previously scheduled through the end of April have been either postponed, or are driving forward as virtual events. Visit our event calendar for specific event details, and stay tuned for updates on a few others, like Stand Up for Madeline & OCRA, and our Uniting for Hope National Conference.

If you’re interested in hosting a virtual event to benefit OCRA, and would like to chat about tools and resources, please send us an email.

While we continue to push forward and hold strong to our mission, we are looking ahead to the impact that this pandemic will have on our fundraising efforts. If you are in a position to lend your support, we need that help now more than ever. Together, we will get through this.

Posted on in OCRA News
Tags:

Share