Every seven minutes a woman is given the diagnosis of having a gynecologic cancer. Each year, approximately 80,000 women will be diagnosed with a new gynecologic cancer and over 28,000 women will die of ovarian, cervix or endometrial cancer, the most common gynecologic cancers diagnosed in the United States. Although extensive research is ongoing to find better treatment options and more cost effective screening tools to prevent these cancers from developing, additional efforts are needed to elevate the public awareness about gynecologic cancers.

In an effort to raise public awareness about these devastating diseases, the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF) and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) hosts a weekend of educational activities in Washington D.C. The pinnacle event for the weekend is the Race to End Women's Cancer - a half-marathon, 5K, and walk in Washington D.C. which is held in honor of women with gynecologic cancer. Clinicians, patients and family members from the Derrick L. Davis Forsyth Regional Cancer Center have been a part of this event, with runners participating in both the half-marathon and the 5K and donations from patients and community members being sent to support the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation.

In an effort to continue the campaign initiated by the GCF and the SGO, the Derrick L. Davis Forsyth Regional Cancer Center at Forsyth Medical Center is sponsors Athena's Run for Gynecologic Cancers which will be held on October 22, 2011 at Forsyth County's Tanglewood Park. This 5K run and 1 mile survivors' walk is being held with the hopes that we can honor those women who have battled with a gynecologic cancer, celebrate the lives of those who have conquered these cancers and raise awareness and support in an attempt to continue with the battle against these cancers. Funds raised through this event will go towards locally supporting education and treatment of patients diagnosed with gynecologic malignancies and will also be sent nationally to support national research efforts.

To Learn More

To find out more about the race, to register or to make a donation, click here.