Coronado Mayor and Peg Ford receiving Proclamation
September 7, 2010 was a bright note for Patient Advocates in San Diego County, as two cities issued Proclamations. Several representatives from local support groups and others were in attendance at the morning San Diego City Council Meeting where Councilmember Sherri S. Lightner proposed and presented the Proclamation to the much appreciated individuals in attendance. Pat Marelius, ovarian cancer survivor, who was instrumental in obtaining the recognition, spoke eloquently of her personal experience and the need for awareness to reach the community at large.
The Proclamation statement included “WHEREAS, ovarian cancer is often referred to as a “silent killer” because the lack of an established detection procedure and non-specific symptoms that often mimic those of less life-threatening conditions make its diagnosis difficult in its early stages, reducing the five-year survival rate from over 90% to as low as 30% and WHEREAS, organizations such as the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance aim to improve the survival rate and quality of life for women facing ovarian cancer by empowering them with the awareness to detect early signs of the disease and the knowledge to take charge of their own health, and WHEREAS, these organizations, as well as smaller local volunteer groups, realize that survival of the disease depends as much on emotional, financial, psychological, and social support and from caregivers, family, and friends as it does on finding effective screening tests and treatments, . BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of San Diego, that this Council, for and on behalf of the people of San Diego, does hereby proclaim the month of September 2010 to be OVARIAN CANCER AWARNESS MONTH’ in the City of San Diego.”
In the afternoon, Patient Advocate, Peg Ford, attended the City Council Meeting in Coronado where the Mayor, Casey Tanaka, presented her with the Proclamation for her efforts and recognition. This Proclamation statement included “Whereas, since 2008, Coronado resident, Peg Ford, an ovarian cancer survivor and patient advocate, together with other survivors, has brought the voice and face of ovarian cancer into the classroom of third year medical students at UC San Diego School of Medicine through the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance program “Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives,” and has partnered with Gynecologic Oncologist, Dr. Afshin Bahador, in his Grand Rounds for doctors at Scripps and Sharp Hospitals; and Whereas, September is the month to support the women who continue to fight heroically against this health crisis, as well as all of their families who are affected, Now, Therefore, I, Casey Tanaka, by the authority vested in me as the Fiftieth Mayor of the City of Coronado, together with the full City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of September 2010 to be “Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month” in the City of Coronado and call upon the people of Coronado to join their fellow citizens across the United States in recognizing and participating in this special observance.” Coronado City Councilmember Barbara Denny had proposed and arranged for this Proclamation to become a reality this year.
Media Contact: Peg Ford (619) 437-8438 [email protected]
