As we close out 2024, we at OCRA are reflecting on a year of powerful advocacy and immense gratitude. Your passion and commitment to raising awareness, driving policy change, and pushing for progress for the ovarian and gynecologic cancer community have left a mark that will be felt for years to come.
Here are some of the incredible wins we achieved together:
- 2024 Advocacy Day: Turning Voices into Action
- This Spring, we hosted our virtual Advocacy Day with 140 advocates representing 37 states and 106 congressional districts. Our advocates held an impressive 180 meetings with legislators, making sure ovarian cancer remains a priority on Capitol Hill. Your voices carried stories of strength, resilience, and the urgent need for funding and research, building momentum for meaningful change.
- Growing our e-Advocacy Community
- We welcomed 1,566 new e-advocates this year – a 15% increase over last year! Our incredible network of e-advocates took 2,342 actions – a 26% jump from 2023. Every email, phone call, and shared letter demonstrated the power of collective advocacy.
- Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Recognition
- Our Advocate Leaders set a new record in 2024 by securing more than 100 Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month proclamations and resolutions across the country, ensuring that ovarian cancer is recognized and given the visibility it deserves.
- Stronger Support in Congress
- Thanks to your advocacy efforts, 98 members of Congress signed our “Dear Colleague” letter in support of increased funding for the DoD’s Ovarian Cancer Research Program – a big jump from last year’s 72 signatures.
- Legislative Milestones
- One of OCRA’s top priority bills, the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, made history this year. With 320 cosponsors in the House and 63 in the Senate, it became the most cosponsored bill in the 118th Congress. This milestone reflects the growing recognition of the importance of early detection and the urgency of legislative action to save lives.
- A Record-Breaking Advocate Leader Program for 2025!
- OCRA received an unprecedented amount of interest in our Advocate Leaders program. We are thrilled to welcome 72 new Advocate Leaders in the new year, growing the group to 167 members representing 43 states and the District of Columbia. These passionate leaders will continue to amplify our mission and strengthen our advocacy efforts nationwide.
None of these achievements would have been possible without YOU – our advocates, supporters, and partners. Your time, energy, and determination made this year one for the record books. Whether you sent an email, attended meetings, secured proclamations, or recruited new advocates, your efforts pushed the needle forward for ovarian cancer patients and their families. As we look ahead to 2025, we are filled with hope. Together, we will continue to amplify our voices and fight for impactful change. Thank you for standing with us and for being part of this incredible community. Here’s to building on this year’s momentum and achieving even greater success in the year to come!
With best wishes for the New Year,
Chad Ramsey, Vice President, Policy, OCRA
