Share: 

Turn the Towns Teal takes annual turn in Rehoboth Beach

Bows are hung all over local towns to raise awareness of ovarian cancer
Turn the Towns Teal, a nonprofit focused on educating women and men about ovarian cancer, decorates local municipalities with teal bows this time of year. It was Rehoboth Beach’s turn Aug. 27. Wendy Gee, left, and Pat Trotto hang bows on the Boardwalk near the Rehoboth Beach Patrol headquarters. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
September 2, 2025

Story Location:
Rehoboth Beach City Hall
229 Rehoboth Avenue
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

After the annual bowing of Milton and Lewes on recent days, Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation officials and volunteers turned their attention to Rehoboth Beach Aug. 28.

Turn the Towns Teal is an annual initiative that marks September as national Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Its purpose is to create awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms.

Sally Oberle, Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation vice president, said there’s still a big push for early detection because there is no test to detect ovarian cancer. The symptoms are vague and can be confused with indicators for other types of cancer, which is why knowledge is crucial, she said.

In addition to Cape Region towns, teal bows were hung in towns up and down the state. The Delaware River and Bay Authority is also hanging bows on all its facilities, said Oberle. Now, when anyone comes into Delaware from New Jersey they’ll see them, she said.

“There still may not be a test, but at least it gets people talking about it, if nothing else,” said Oberle.

All women are at risk for ovarian cancer; the disease affects 1 in 70 females of any age. Fewer than 20 percent of cases are diagnosed early. Due to late diagnosis and a recurrence rate of 70-90 percent, ovarian cancer is the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers.

There is no test for ovarian cancer, so knowledge of symptoms is crucial. Symptoms can include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms such as frequency or urgency. The symptoms are often vague, but if they persist more than two weeks, a woman should discuss them with her physician.

The foundation’s 15th annual Teal Ribbon 5K will take place Saturday, Sept. 20, at Rockford Park in Wilmington. It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year, said Oberle. 

For more information on the Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation, go to deovariancancer.org, email info@deovariancancer.org or call 302-998-6889.

Korie and Larry Sandridge make sure the bow on this Rehoboth Avenue light pole is secure.
Rehoboth Beach Mayor Stan Mills ties a bow to a sign on Baltimore Avenue while Erin Corcoran, city communication assistant, holds the supplies.
Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation Vice President Sally Oberle directs volunteers on what to do during the ribbon-hanging.
Roughly a dozen people showed up to help in Rehoboth Beach. Shown are in back (l-r) Korie Sandridge, Larry Sandridge, Bob Gilmore and Pat Trotto. In front are Mayor Stan Mills; Jan Gilmore; Talbot Buck, Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce; Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, D-Rehoboth Beach; Wendy Gee; Olive Daube, age 3; Van Daube; Greg Merk; and Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation Vice President Sally Oberle.
The teal bows will up through the end of September to mark Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
A bag of bows and ties is ready for hanging.
Volunteer Bob Gilmore hangs a bow in front of the Rehoboth Beach Public Library.
The stop sign on Baltimore Avenue near Second Street is even more colorful now.

Most Popular

Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.

Most Popular