Our beloved mother, wife, grandmother, friend, and coworker Veronika passed away July 3rd, 2024 from ovarian cancer. Although her life could not be saved, our hope is that the funds we raise for the DOvEEgene Research Program could save the life of other people, those we love and those we will never meet.
Ovarian cancer remains the deadliest gynecological cancer, and its prevention and treatment is grossly understudied and underfinanced. Because its early symptoms are so vague, they often get overlooked due to systemic sexism and ageism. Part of the reason the illness is so awful is because as of today, there are very limited ways to detect it early, meaning people often find out they have it much later than they would for other cancers and reducing their chances at survival.
The Cedars Run for Ovarian Cancer raises funds for the DOvEEgene Research Program developed by Dr. Gilbert and her team of McGill researchers; it provides a safe and minimally invasive method for earlier diagnosis of ovarian and endometrial cancers while being the only test to distinguish cancerous versus non-cancerous cells in pre- and post-menopausal women. For more information, please visit https://doveegene.com/about/
Many of the risk factors of ovarian cancer are unfortunately beyond our individual control; systemic and institutional discrimination causing chronic life stress, exposure to pesticides and environmental pollutants due to government negligence and corporate greed, to name a few-- age, unluckiness, and, well, presence of ovaries to name others. However, we do find it encouraging that there is this amazing lab in Montreal working day and night to improve health outcomes for those affected by the illness- the earlier the illness gets detected, the more optimistic the outcomes.
Your support would be much appreciated- whether it be financially by donating or physically by joining our team on Sunday, October 19th 2025.
