My name is Anna Burchfield and I am one of the Faces of Frocktober 2016
I am back for my fourth year of fundraising in 2016, my second as a one of the ‘Faces of Frocktober’
What is Frocktober?
Held throughout the whole month of October, Frocktober is a fundraising initiative to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer reserach. The classic Frocktober challenge asks participants to wear a frock every a day during the month. It’s all about increasing public awareness of ovarian cancer and raising money to support the development of an early detection test.
The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) is Australia’s pre-eminent body supporting ovarian cancer research. The goal is to increase awareness of the need to raise vital research funds for the development of an early detection test that will save women’s lives. Since its inception, Frocktober has raised over $1 million for the OCRF.
Why do I fundraise for this Frockin’ Good Cause?
My Grandmother was the lucky 1 in 5 to survive Ovarian Cancer.
She was diagnosed in 1974, when she was 47 years old, a time when her discomfort was dismissed as “women’s pains”. She went to another Doctor, who sent her to Sydney immediately after determining her diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer.
She turned 89 years old on the 10th of September 2016.
This would not be her first Cancer diagnosis; she went on to battle Bowel Cancer – three times.
Every year since 2013 I have fundraised as a celebration of her survival; I want to ensure a non-invasive, cost effective early detection test for Ovarian Cancer will become a reality in my lifetime.
One woman dies every ten hours from Ovarian Cancer;
The symptoms whisper, they don’t roar
The Facts are heartbreaking:
- Pap Smears do not detect Ovarian Cancer – there is no early detection test
- Detection usually comes too late – a lack of symptoms in the early stages of disease, women are usually diagnosed in the late stages when the cancer has spread to other organs in the body.
- Early detection will save her life – If the cancer is diagnosed and treated early, between 80-100% of patients will survive for more than five years. But only approximately 30% of women diagnosed at advanced stages will survive for more than five years.
- Ovarian Cancer has a lower survival rate than Breast and Cervical Cancer – it is the leading cause of death for all Gynaecological Cancers
What the ‘Frock’ have dresses got to do with it?
In 2016 I don’t just want to help cure Cancer; I want to slow down ‘fast fashion’.
All donated frocks will be passed on to St Vincent de Paul’s and Women’ Refuges to keep helping improve the lives of all women in need.
I will be engaging several local Perth creatives to help me spread the word, I hope you’re on the list of people I thank in November.
I am not a scientist, and I am making a difference – so can you!
Follow my journey Instagram and Facebook
PERTH RESIDENTS: Save the dates
- Thursday 13th of October @ Mercado32
- Saturday 22nd of October @ Jonte Designs
- Thursday 27th of October @ Mercado32
Can’t make the events?
Donate here: https://frocktober2016.everydayhero.com/au/two-fine-femmes
All my beautiful fancy Frocktober photos from 2015 in this post are courtesy of Michelle Karas Photography.
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