Ovarian cancer awareness gives Lewes a real teal feel
Sally Oberle was walking down the street in Lewes during last year’s Turn The Town Teal day, when she saw firsthand the impact the annual ovarian cancer awareness event has in the community.
“Two vacationers from New Jersey asked what we were doing. One opened his wallet and pulled out $100, because he had a family member affected by ovarian cancer,” said Oberle, the Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation vice president of special projects.
Volunteers were out again Aug. 20, hanging teal ribbons on posts around the First Town in the First State.
Lewes Fire Chief Robbie Stephens grabbed a bag of ribbons and hung them on the Savannah Road fire station to show his organization’s support for the cause.
Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation volunteers hang teal ribbons in towns and cities across Delaware.
They will be hanging more in Rehoboth Beach Wednesday, Aug. 27.
For the second year in a row, the Delaware River and Bay Authority is hanging teal ribbons at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminals in Lewes and Cape May, N.J., and other facilities.
Oberle said Lower Township, N.J.. is joining with Delaware’s effort because its officials feel strongly about increasing awareness.
She said the Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation raises $50,000 every year through its Turn the Towns Teal events and their annual 5K. This year, the race will be held Saturday, Sept. 20, in Rockford Park in Wilmington.
Oberle said they were recently able to give a grant to ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute for a new piece of medical equipment.
“The machine can look at cancer cells of an ovarian tumor in great detail. They’re still trying to figure out what about those cells is distinctive, so they can design a test to target them and eliminate them,” she said.
She said there is still no test for ovarian cancer, which makes it all the more important that women pay attention to the symptoms.
“We tend to blow off a lot of these small symptoms, nagging things like bloating, feeling full quickly and difficulty urinating,” Oberle said. “A lot of times when it finally is diagnosed, it may be too late for effective treatment. So follow up, because it may make a big difference in your life and the lives of those you love.”
For more information or to donate, go to turnthetownsteal.org.
Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.
