The Northern Virginia Chapter supports the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s mission to raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer.  The Coalition is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer.

Our chapter holds an annual 5K Run/Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer at Reston Town Center and participates in community health fairs and conferences. We provide educational speakers and continually seek new venues to distribute ovarian cancer awareness materials throughout Northern Virginia. We conduct our public awareness campaign via print and television media, using local people and images to highlight the NOCC message. We invite anyone with an interest in spreading our message to join our efforts.

Sincerely,

Pam Trainor

Volunteer Chapter President

571-294-6913

noccnva@ovarian.org

About Us

Our Chapter was founded in 2000 by Christine Rohrer. Christine’s mother died of ovarian cancer in 2001. The Northern Virginia Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition is an ever evolving chapter.

·      Christine Rohrer became a national NOCC board member in 2005.

·      Jeannie Fryer, an ovarian cancer survivor, became chapter President in May 2006.  In May 2009, she stepped down from the chapter presidency to accept a position on the NOCC National Advisory Council.

·      Jill Arvanitis became President in May of 2009. Jill lost her mom to ovarian cancer in 2002.

·      Pam Trainor and Jill Arvanitis joined forces in December of 2009 as Co-Presidents. Pam is a cervical cancer survivor.

Chapter Advisory Board

Officers:

·      Co-President – Pam Trainor

·      Co-President – vacant

·      VP for Education – Mary Halsall

·      Public Relations – Ruth Gerbec

·      Secretary – vacant

·      Treasurer – Joanne Olson

·      Volunteer Coordinators – Kristen Guerrera and Cassie Beal

Board members:

·      Ann Berger

·      Jocelyn Miller

·      Lani Phillips

·      Darlene Bowling

·      Barbara Vogel

·      Leo Vogel

·      Gary Fryer

·      Jon Halsall

·      Mike Gerbec

·      President Emeritus – Jeannie Fryer

·      President Emeritus – Christine Rohrer

Chapter History

Since Christine Rohrer founded our chapter in 2000, we have accomplished much. By using print, television and billboards, we are making sure the WORD gets out about ovarian cancer. We participate in many area health fairs to distribute information and answer any questions people have regarding ovarian cancer. We have donated IPODS and lap desks to the infusion clinic for patients to use while undergoing chemotherapy treatments. We have donated a camera and bulletin board also. We distributed bookmarks to local bookstores during September, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. At the 2006 Whisper Walk, we presented our first donation to a research group at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. They are researching ovarian cancer. We get quarterly reports from them. In 2007 we began sponsoring Dr. Jill Slack-Davis on an ongoing basis for this research.

Some of our efforts:

● 2003 – 1^st Annual Run/Walk for the Whisper. 300 participants, $35,000.00 raised for ovarian cancer awareness

● 2004 – 2nd Annual Run/Walk for the Whisper. 450 participants, $80,000.00 raised for ovarian cancer awareness

● 2005 – 3rd Annual Run/Walk for the Whisper. 525 participants, $85,000.00 raised for ovarian cancer awareness

● 2005 – Major sponsor for the art exhibit “body image-body essence” – by artist John Magnan.

This exhibit views ovarian cancer through the art of sculpture.
To learn more about this amazing traveling exhibit, please visit: http://www.bodyimagebodyessence.com

● 2005 – Our Speakers Bureau program began. Visits to hospitals and infusion clinics, and we participate in talks for church and other groups to get the WORD out about ovarian cancer. Mary Halsall has been our key speaker at these events. Mary is an ovarian cancer survivor.

● 2006 – 4th annual Run/Walk to Break the Silence. 950 participants, $135,000.00 raised for ovarian cancer awareness. For this event, we pledged 5% of the proceeds to the continuation of the “body image-body essence” exhibit.

● 2007 – 5th annual Run/Walk to Break the Silence. 1100 participants, $119,000.00 raised for ovarian cancer awareness.  For this event, we pledged 5% of the proceeds to the continuation of the “body image-body essence” exhibit.

● 2007 – Robbyn Rothman, an ovarian cancer survivor, held the first annual Swing 4 Life Golf Tournament at the Dominion Golf Club. She donated the proceeds to our chapter.

● 2007 – Three Metro shelters displayed posters about ovarian cancer. These were placed for the month of September for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

● 2007 – We were exhibitors at the NBC-4 Health & Fitness Expo at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC to help raise awareness.

● 2008 – 6th annual Run/Walk to Break the Silence. 1200 participants, over $90,000.00 raised for ovarian cancer awareness.

● 2008 – Robbyn Rothman, an ovarian cancer survivor, held the second annual Swing 4 Life Golf Tournament at the Dominion Golf Club. She donated the proceeds to our chapter.

● 2008 – For National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month we purchased ten bus tails in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. We had six bus stops with ovarian cancer information posted.

● 2008 – We continued as exhibitors at the NBC-4 Health &  Fitness Expo at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC to help raise awareness.

● 2008 – We began and continue our efforts to get enough signatures on our petition to get a USPS teal ribbon stamp. For more information, please go to the "Programs” page.

● 2009 – The third annual Swing 4 Life Golf Tournament was held at the Dominion Golf Club. Proceeds were donated to our chapter.

● 2009 – 7th annual Run/Walk to Break the Silence. 1200 participants, over $120,000.00 raised for ovarian cancer awareness.

● 2009 – We exhibited at the George Mason University Health and Fitness Expo to help raise awareness.

● 2009 – We exhibited at the United States Patent Office to help raise awareness.

● 2009 – We continued as exhibitors at the NBC-4 Health & Fitness Expo at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC to help raise awareness.

● 2009 – Cheryl Pairel from MidAtlantic Pelvic Surgeons began a new fundraising event - Mrs. Pacosbooks. She and her husband picked up unwanted books, CDs, movies, records, etc., found buyers, mailed the items to the buyers, and donated all the proceeds to our chapter. For more information, please go to the "Fundraisers” page.

● 2010 – The fourth annual Swing 4 Life Golf Tournament in Memory of Robbyn Rothman was held at the Dominion Golf Club. Proceeds were donated to our chapter.

● 2010 – 8th annual Run/Walk to Break the Silence. 1450 participants, over $120,000.00 raised for ovarian cancer awareness.

● 2010 – Cheryl Pairel from MidAtlantic Pelvic Surgeons continues her fundraising event - Mrs. Pacosbooks, donating all proceeds to our chapter. For more information, please go to the "Fundraisers” page.

● 2010 – We continued as exhibitors at the George Mason University Health and Fitness Expo to help raise awareness.

● 2010 – We continued as exhibitors at the NBC-4 Health & Fitness Expo at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC to help raise awareness.