NEWBURYPORT — September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and in its 14th year, Greater Newburyport Ovarian Cancer Awareness is again presenting two of its most popular and successful community events: the Newburyport Lantern Festival on Saturday, June 29 (rain date June 30) and the 5K Run/Walk in Honor of Jackie Poor and Paula Holm on Sunday, Sept. 22.
Founded in 2011, GNOCA has sought to spread greatest awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms by staging its events as early as feasible and in the most accessible and welcoming locations as possible. Once again, the stirring Lantern Festival will take place at Bartlet Mall’s Frog Pond. Registration and decoration of the lanterns will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the actual floating ceremony will commence at 8:30 p.m. The suggested lantern donation is $10.
The Lantern Festival is inspired by the Asian tradition of decorating and floating lanterns at dusk to remember departed family members and friends and to make wishes for the future. The public is encouraged to bring picnics, blankets or lawn chairs to the event. Live music, under the able leadership of Donna Ricci, will be featured throughout the evening. Calligraphers will also be available to assist with lantern dedications and decorations.
For those who are unable to attend the festival, or who choose to conduct their own ceremony at home or some other private location, lantern kits will be available at Greetings by Design, 6 Market Square, Newburyport. Those who hold their own private ceremonies may do so on a day that best suits their needs.
In 2024, about 19,680 women in the United States will receive a new ovarian cancer diagnosis, and about 12,740 women will die from the disease. Only around 20 percent of cases are found in the early stages, whereby approximately 94 percent of patients will survive longer than 5 years from initial diagnosis. The much higher percentage of later detections seriously limits effective treatments, resulting in much lower survival rates, according to the American Cancer Society.
As with every form of cancer, early detection can dramatically determine the difference between life and death.
In the earliest days of the pandemic, the annual Newburyport Lantern Festival and the 5K Run/Walk in Honor of Jackie Poor and Paula Holm became virtual events. Since then, GNOCA has returned to live versions of both these events, while also ensuring the possibility of virtual participation for those who might still prefer that option.
The 2024 GNOCA Run/Walk in, starting and ending at Michael’s Harborside, will be held on Sunday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m. With the assistance of the Winner’s Circle Running Club, participants of all ages will enjoy either a 5K run or a family friendly stroll through Newburyport.
Runners and walkers may preregister online (www.ocawareness.org) by Thursday, Sept. 19, at noon. On race day, preregistration check-in and new registrations begin at 8:30 a.m. Preregistration is free for those under 12 years, $15 dollars for those 12 to 18 years, and $30 for those 18 years and older. Race-day registration is free for those under 12 years, $15 for those 12 to 18 years, and $35 for those 18 years and older.
Of course, virtual or individual Run/Walk participants may set forth, on a day of their choosing, from the comfort of their own homes, neighborhoods, downtown Newburyport, a rail trail, or any other favorite route.
Runners of all ages are encouraged to enter the race, with prizes, including gift certificates to many area restaurants and establishments, offered in a wide variety of age groups. The New England 65 Plus Runners Club enthusiastically endorses this race, and older runners will find prizes being awarded across multiple smaller intervals.
Aside from direct assistance to local patients and their families, proceeds from GNOCA events go to Ovations for the Cure (ovationsforthecure.org), a nonprofit organization, in their promotion of knowledge of the disease, concrete hope and support for those already diagnosed, and significant scientific advancements leading to the cure.
Detailed instructions for registering and participating in these two events, whether live or virtual, are available online. For questions or more information, please visit www.ocawareness.org, email info@greetingsbydesign.com, or call Deb Green at 978-225-6700.