Honoring her mother’s successful battle against ovarian cancer, Renee Goff-Stark wanted to give back to her and other survivors like her. “I wanted to make an impact to honor survivors and benefit the ovarian cancer community through raising money for local organizations that aim to raise awareness about the disease,” said Goff-Stark.
The Marietta-based real estate associate decided to display the beauty of survivors through a fashion show where survivors are the models. “Having Tootsies be a great partner really helped launch the initiative to celebrate the survivors, and also get the word out about ovarian cancer,” added Goff- Stark.
Now in its third year, the 2012 Teal to Heal Fashion Show was held on Sept. 6 at Tootsies in Lenox and proceeds benefitted the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance.
“GOCA is an education and awareness organization and our mission is to educate people about the disease because there is no test or screening for this cancer. It is found by chance,” said Doug Barron, executive director of GOCA. “To have Teal to Heal benefit our organization really helps us get the word out about ovarian cancer.”
The nonprofit, founded in 1998 by 13 survivors, gets the word out with the help of volunteers presenting in local communities, health fairs, Lunch and Learn sessions, and more. Teal to Heal is always looking for community help to start the next year’s fashion show and raising awareness.
“The community has to be involved to save lives,” said Donna Sizemore, Goff-Stark’s mother. “The fashion show is about looking good and feeling good. It’s a way to show women that although we lose the hair, we lose the weight, they look at other women who have survived and give them inspiration and hope.”
The 2012 Teal to Heal Fashion Show had 14 survivors who modeled fall fashions and the event raised over $20,000 to benefit the Georgia Ovarian Cancer Alliance.
For more information on GOCA, visit www.gaovariancancer.org. For more information on Teal to Heal, send e-mail to Renee Goff-Stark at voguerg@yahoo.com
In Other News: Digital Insurance, the nation's largest employee benefits-only agency, raised $40,000 for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta during its fourth annual DI Dash Road Race on Aug. 25. Since the event's inception in 2009, the Atlanta-based company has raised $130,000 for the children's hospital.
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