Georgetown seeks volunteers to Turn the Towns Teal Aug. 27
For the third year in a row, Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, will be teaming up with the Town of Georgetown to create greater awareness for ovarian cancer by participating in the Turn the Towns Teal campaign. She is asking for volunteers to assist her and Georgetown Mayor Bill West in this effort Saturday, Aug. 27.
The national campaign designed to raise awareness of what has often been referred to as a silent disease, because ovarian cancer's symptoms are typically vague and subtle. There is no reliable diagnostic screening for ovarian cancer, and that is why awareness of the known symptoms is so important. If detected in the early stages, the reported five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is over 90 percent.
As part of the campaign, and in coordination with the Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation, Briggs King and her volunteers will tie teal-colored ribbons throughout the town's jurisdiction starting at 9 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27. The first stop will be The Circle in Georgetown.
This year, prior to the ribbon distribution, Briggs King also invites constituents and volunteers to meet with her at 8 a.m. at the Georgetown Family Restaurant, 115 East Market St., for coffee beforehand. Attendees may feel free to discuss with her any questions or concerns they may have. Following the coffee gathering, she and volunteers will head to The Circle to begin hanging the ribbons.
The biodegradable ribbons will coincide with September being National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The ribbons will remain displayed throughout the remainder of the month. Residents are also encouraged to tie teal ribbons on their mailboxes and sign posts on their property to show support for the awareness campaign.
Each year, more than 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the United States, resulting in over 14,000 deaths. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women age 35 to 74. For more information and a list of the known symptoms of ovarian cancer, go to www.deovariancancer.org.
