A New Milestone, Six Years in the Making
For the past six years, Susan Fuhs of Virginia Beach has turned her own ovarian cancer diagnosis into an annual invitation for others to get involved, get educated, and give back.
Susan is the longtime organizer behind the Fitness & Fight fundraising event in Virginia Beach—an event she started as part of OCRA’s Ovarian Fitness series, back in 2020. To date, Susan’s fundraising events for OCRA, which she holds annually, have raised an extraordinary $75,000 for research, advocacy, and support programs. This October, she’s hosting her first outdoor bike ride, as Fitness & Fight moves to the Virginia Capital Trail on October 10th. Registration is open now, and early bird registration ends on August 31st.
Susan is also a presenter with OCRA’s Survivors Teaching Students program, sharing her story with medical students to give them a survivor’s perspective on diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, along with facts about the disease.
Turning a Cancer Diagnosis into a Mission
If sharing my story could help someone recognize symptoms earlier, ask an important question, or find the support they need through OCRA, then getting involved was an easy decision.
Susan was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019, and like many people facing a cancer diagnosis, she researched everything she could find to understand what was ahead of her, ultimately finding support through OCRA. “Many of the resources that helped me navigate those early days came from OCRA.”
Before her diagnosis, Susan had never talked with a physician about ovarian cancer, but when she developed symptoms, her doctor recognized the need for a pelvic ultrasound.
She says that after her diagnosis, “That experience made me want to do something meaningful … I wanted to help raise awareness about the risks and symptoms of ovarian cancer, and I wanted to support the organization that had helped me when I needed it most. OCRA provides incredible resources for patients and families while funding research that is improving treatment options for women facing this disease.”
Building Fitness & Fight
Susan’s first fundraiser was held in 2020, which meant it was completely virtual. “While it wasn’t what I had originally imagined, the team at OCRA helped make it successful,” she says, “and I was overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and family who ‘showed up’ to support the cause.”
Heading into her first in-person ride in 2021, she worried that she might not know enough people to fill a spin class. With help from friends and the host gym, the class ended up well attended—but what stayed with her wasn’t the turnout. Today she remembers that a family traveled from Richmond to participate in memory of their wife and mother, who had passed away from ovarian cancer.
“It was a powerful reminder that these events aren’t just fundraisers,” she says. “They are an opportunity to honor loved ones we’ve lost, support those currently in treatment, and connect with others who understand the impact of this disease.“
In the years since, Susan has continued hosting Fitness & Fight, and while she changes up the workout with each event, she makes sure to weave in education alongside the fitness and fundraising.
“Like many women, I juggle a lot of responsibilities, and it can be easy to dismiss vague symptoms or put your own health at the bottom of the list,” she says. “I want people to leave knowing a little more about ovarian cancer than they did before.”
Teaching the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals
A desire to educate more people about ovarian cancer is what led her to OCRA’s Survivors Teaching Students (STS) program, which she joined soon after her diagnosis.
When she learned the nearest chapter was too far away for her to participate, she decided to bring the program closer to her. With support from OCRA, EVMS, and her own oncology team, she spent nearly two years recruiting survivors and caregivers willing to share their stories, and her persistence paid off. Together, Susan and her team of volunteers have been educating medical students since 2023.
Future doctors learn a lot in the classroom, but hearing directly from patients and families gives them a perspective they can’t get from a textbook,” she says. “If sharing our stories helps even one woman receive an earlier diagnosis, it’s worth every bit of effort.
Join Susan for Fitness & Fight on October 10th
This year, Fitness & Fight hits the trail for the first time, with a bike ride along the Virginia Capital Trail on Saturday, October 10th, beginning and ending at Chickahominy Riverfront Park in Williamsburg. Riders can choose from 9-, 14-, or 28-mile routes, with all proceeds funding research and support for the ovarian and gynecologic cancer community. Since its inception, Fitness & Fight has raised over $75,000 toward that mission.
Early bird pricing runs through August 31st, and ovarian and gynecologic cancer survivors can register free using promo code SURVIVOR. Riders who need a bike can rent one from Williamsburg on Wheels using code WOWCAP for a discount. Register or donate to save your spot and join Susan for a ride five years in the making.
Her advice for anyone considering hosting an event or getting involved with OCRA? Just begin.
It’s absolutely worth it. The OCRA team is there to help every step of the way, so you never feel like you’re doing it alone. Every year I’m reminded how generous people can be when given the opportunity to help.
Find an Ovarian Fitness event near you, or start your own fundraiser today.
