OCA Awarded Impact Award By The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

Toronto, Ontario, September 21, 2021 – With a formal ceremony set to take place at the end of September, today the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition announced that Ovarian Cancer Australia is among the list of this year’s recipients of the inaugural World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Impact Awards.

Twelve awards in 5 categories will be handed out at the Coalition's Partner Meeting being held virtually September 30 and October 1st. Ovarian Cancer Australia is being recognized in the Charter Champion category for their work to make ovarian cancer a priority in Australia.

In alliance with two other major partners, their National Action Plan sets out a roadmap to reduce incidence, increase survival, and improve the quality of life for those diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Additionally, Ovarian Cancer Australia’s collaboration with a major university to identify research priorities and their successful lobbying of government for research funds will transform the future of ovarian cancer in Australia.

Ovarian Cancer Australia CEO Jane Hill thanked the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition for their recognition.

“Ovarian Cancer Australia is thrilled to be a recipient of the Charter Champion Award and honoured to be recognised amongst five other highly esteemed global organisations.

“At any given moment there are more than 4,000 women in Australia living with an ovarian cancer diagnosis. We continue to work with the sector, and those impacted by ovarian cancer to ensure we achieve the overall vision and objectives of the National Action Plan, to provide more than hope for everyone impacted by this cruel disease and change its devastating outcomes.

“We will continue to advocate for more research to progress care and treatment and support those women living with the disease and their loved ones. Our hope is for a world without ovarian cancer and a cure for all women with ovarian cancer. Until then, we hope that advances in treatments will lead to better survival rates and better quality of life for all those affected.”

The complete list of Impact Award winners, by category, are:

Charter Champion Award – This category recognizes the exemplary efforts related to the 6 goals of the Global Ovarian Cancer Charter, which was released last year at the International Gynecologic Cancer Society Annual Meeting. All the winners in this category have already established themselves as Charter Champions.

• The Clearity Foundation, United States

• Eierstockkrebs Deutschland e.V., Germany

• The Dempsey Center, United States

• Ovarian Cancer Australia

• Target Ovarian Cancer, United Kingdom

• Kolkata Gynaecological Oncology Trials and Translational Group (KolGOTrg), India

World Ovarian Day Award – This category acknowledges contributions to the annual World Ovarian Cancer Day (May 8) Campaign. The winners for 2021 are:

• Ovacare, Ireland

• Cure Our Ovarian Cancer, New Zealand

• Loto Onlus, Italy

The Every Woman Study™️ Award – this Award is to recognize those that are demonstrating that they are using the Every Woman Study™️ to drive positive change for women within their own settings or country.  The award this year goes to:

• Ovarian Cancer Canada

Transformational Research Award - For individual researchers who have demonstrated, through their work, a long-standing commitment to furthering progress in the understanding of ovarian cancer and approaches that have potential to benefit women impacted by the disease.  The 2021 award goes to:

• Dr. Garth Funston, United Kingdom

Outstanding Achievement Award – This final award recognizes the lifetime achievement of an individual or organization who has significantly impacted the ovarian cancer community through their work. The inaugural recipient, who was instrumental in founding World Ovarian Cancer Day and the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition is:

• Elisabeth Baugh, outgoing Chair, World Ovarian Cancer Coalition; Ovarian Cancer Canada

Robin Cohen, incoming Vice Chair of the Coalition, CEO of the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation, and emcee for the ceremony, explains her excitement, “the past two years have been so challenging for us all, so what better time to acknowledge the amazing work of the global advocacy community”. Clara MacKay, CEO of the Coalition adds, “despite the enormous obstacles, our community has shown that we are resilient, adaptable, and 100% dedicated to supporting those impacted by a diagnosis of ovarian cancer – we only wish we could give everyone an award this year as all of our partner organizations are so truly deserving.”

The awards ceremony will be streamed on October 1st during the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Partner Meeting.  More information on the meeting can be found here. 

About the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

Established in 2016, the Coalition is a not-for-profit organization with 145 patient advocacy organization members in 37 countries working to reduce the impact that ovarian cancer has on the lives of women and their loved ones.  More information can be found on www.worldovariancancercoalition.org

About Ovarian Cancer Australia

Ovarian Cancer Australia is an independent national not-for-profit organisation, supporting women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Our focus is to provide care and support for those affected by ovarian cancer; and represent them by leading change. Our vision is to save lives and ensure no woman with ovarian cancer walks alone.