Cycle Against a Women Killer
More than 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. Of that number, 15,000 will not survive. Because symptoms are vague, resembling abdominal distress, the disease goes undiagnosed until it’s too late.
It was too late for forty-three-year-old Debbie Flamm, a teacher and runner with two teen-agers. Her best friend, fitness instructor Bethany Diamond, felt helpless. “I had to do something to make sure her death had a purpose.” In Flamm’s memory she developed Ovarian Cycle, a non-profit foundation that sponsors an annual wellness program to help fund ovarian cancer research. To date, the organization has donated more than $530,000 to research an early detection test.
Each spring, registered riders train for six weeks at Atlanta area gyms free of charge to prepare for a six-hour, 100-virtual mile, indoor bike ride. Training for the 2009 Ovarian Cycle is underway and culminates April 25 with the final ride at Atlanta’s Midtown Athletic Club. Proceeds benefit the Ovarian Cancer Institute and the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
“Whether you ride or not, participate, donate,” urges founder Diamond. “Work out, get into shape. Form a team if you can’t ride six hours. This ride may one day save lives—that’s what we’re fighting for.”
Visit ovariancycle.org to register
