This year, the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance (GOCA) is celebrating its 25th anniversary. From humble beginnings around a dining room table in Sandy Springs to becoming a nationally recognized women’s organization, GOCA leads Georgia in educating women about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. The original mission for the organization is alive and well through patient support programs and advocacy work accomplished through the Bag of Hope Program, Survivors Teaching Students and many community-based education and awareness events held annually across the state.
Recent years of pandemic worry had kept GOCA’s medically fragile community from celebrating together. The pivot to virtual fundraising was monumentally important in keeping the organization thriving. Dine-a-long charity fundraising and intimate online wine tastings honed GOCA’s approach to virtual storytelling during the pandemic and created memorable biographies, music videos, heartfelt stories of survival and memorials. The organization’s rich video history can be viewed on the video page of the newly redesigned GOCA website.
Coming together again is at the top of everyone’s mind this year, according to executive director Doug Barron. “As we celebrate GOCA’s 25th Anniversary, we are committed to the founding members’ vision and mission of the importance of ovarian cancer education, awareness and early detection,” he says.
The 13th Annual 2023 Shaken, Not Stirred Gala, held on March 11 at Georgia Aquarium, was an evening of fun and fundraising that offered the community an uplifting evening of remembrance. Atlanta News First’s own Monica Pearson hosted over 500 guests. Thanks to Jordan Campbell, the dynamic auctioneer, GOCA’s supporters raised more than $360,000 to support the organization’s programs and community outreach.
This year’s gala also honored all the City Lifestyle magazines throughout metropolitan Atlanta. Over the last decade, City Lifestyle’s dedication to GOCA has changed the way people think about ovarian cancer. Whether advertising the “Teal Trot” or “Teal to Heal,” for City Lifestyle, it has always been about the survivors. Highlighting individual survivor stories while profiling GOCA’s most memorable annual fundraising events offers readers the chance to be inspired by the journeys of many different women.
Other upcoming GOCA events include the 21st Annual Teal Trot 5K Walk/Run — the largest ovarian cancer awareness event in Georgia and one of the largest awareness events in the Southeastern United States — as well as the 2023 Teal to Heal Fashion Show, produced by Tootsies Buckhead.
“The Teal Trot is an uplifting celebration of our community remembering, honoring and recognizing woman of all ages, their families and friends who have, are or will be affected by ovarian cancer — as well as an opportunity to educate the public about the risks and symptoms ovarian cancer,” says Barron.
“The Teal to Heal fashion show allows the strength, courage, personality and beauty of the survivor participants to shine, which is so empowering to them and touching for our attendees,” he adds.
The “Teal Trot,” which will be held September 16 at Chastain Park, is a high-spirited community event that is just plain ol’ fun. The high-energy crowd of over 1,000 people is a great way to meet friends new and old and to learn about GOCA. Meanwhile, “Teal to Heal” on November 2 will explore the finest in women’s fall and winter fashions.
Whether you show the organization support by walking with a fundraising team at Teal Trot or strutting down the runway at Teal to Heal, GOCA’s continued presence in our community and across Georgia strengthens the mission and offers much-needed support to women at every phase of diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
To learn more, visit gaovariancancer.org.
