4th Annual Ovarian Cancer Awareness Walk, Run and Health Fair Brings Community Together

More than the 250 people who registered prior to Saturday, September 12th showed up with purpose, sneakers laced, hearts open, and a shared goal: to raise awareness, honor families affected by ovarian cancer, and connect the community with health resources that can make a real difference.

The 4th Annual Ovarian Cancer Awareness Walk, Run and Health Fair brought together walkers, runners, vendors, student organizations, public leaders, sponsors, families, athletes, and advocates for a day centered on education, movement, and support. It wasn’t just a fitness event. It was a reminder that awareness grows fastest when people gather face to face, ask questions, and carry the message back into their homes, schools, gyms, workplaces, and neighborhoods.

For health and wellness organizations, hospitals, gyms, trainers, and student groups, events like this show what community prevention work can look like when it’s active, accessible, and built around trust.

A strong turnout showed the power of showing up

Every walker and runner helped turn a serious health topic into a visible community conversation. That visibility is important because ovarian cancer can be hard to detect early.

According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer symptoms can be vague and may include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling full quickly, and urinary changes. These symptoms can also be linked to many less serious conditions, which is one reason awareness and honest conversations with healthcare providers matter.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also notes that ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. That fact doesn’t mean people should feel afraid. It means people need information, support, and access to care before symptoms are ignored or dismissed.

The health fair connected people with resources they could use

The health fair gave attendees a chance to meet vendors, ask questions, and learn about services in a low-pressure setting. This is valuable because many people don’t know where to start when it comes to screenings, risk factors, insurance questions, family health history, or support after diagnosis.

Health fair vendors and community partners help close that gap. A person may come for the walk, then stop by a table and leave with information they didn’t know they needed. Anyone may hear a presentation and decide to share symptoms with a loved one or close friend.

Public leaders and student organizations helped amplify the message

The day included special presentations and words from the Rep. Kamela Smith, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, and Delaware State Senator Nicole Poore. Their participation helped elevate the message and showed that ovarian cancer awareness belongs in public conversation, not just clinical settings.

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Student organizations also played an important role. Their presence brought energy, service, and peer-to-peer connection to the event. Faith was an alumna of University of Delaware and every student we connected with at the event was excited to walk/run in memory of a fellow Blue Hen who was active on campus during her tenure.

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Ovarian cancer education isn’t only for women currently facing symptoms or diagnosis. It’s also for families who share health histories, friends who notice changes, coaches who promote whole-person wellness, and community members who can help women seek care sooner.

Sponsors made the day possible

Events with this kind of reach don’t happen without committed partners. The Faith Deanna Johnson Foundation extends deep gratitude to our sponsors and partners who helped make the 4th Annual Ovarian Cancer Awareness Walk, Run and Health Fair possible.

Thank you to:

• Delaware City Refining Company

• Delaware Health and Social Services

• Grail

• New Castle County

• Christiana Care

• Delaware First Health

• Home Well

• Avalon Flooring

  
  

Their support helped create a space where education, movement, and community care could come together in a meaningful way.

A special thank you also goes to the sponsors-in-kind whose services, goods, and time helped support the event experience:

• Philly Stream

• Spicer Studios

• Mobile Media Moguls

• Mr. Kenneth and Dr. Shirley Everett

• Bimbo Bakeries USA

• Alpha Graphics

• HOPE

• Shop Rite

  
  

In-kind support often happens behind the scenes, but attendees feel the impact. Food, media, printing, production, and event coverage services all help make a community health event feel welcoming, organized, and memorable.

The next step is to keep the conversation going.

Ask about family health history. Learn the symptoms. Encourage loved ones to talk with a healthcare provider when something feels off. Share trusted information from sources like the CDC, the American Cancer Society, and local health systems. If you lead a gym, campus group, hospital program, wellness team, or community organization, look for ways to bring education into the spaces people already trust.

This blog is for informational purposes only and isn’t medical advice. Anyone with symptoms, concerns, or questions about personal risk should speak with a qualified healthcare professional.