Dozens of influential individuals, philanthropists and foundations across Australia have this week received an Ovary Bouquet. As they unwrap the flowers, a story unfolds about the low survival rate of women with ovarian cancer.
The ‘Ovary Bouquet’ highlights the fact that as their flowers wilt over the next seven days, another 35 Australian women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and only 17 of these women will be alive five years from now.
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal reproductive cancer in Australia and more than 1,700 women and girls will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. Treatments for ovarian cancer have remained unchanged since 1992 and the causes are still largely unknown.
Decade of Action (D.O.A) was engaged by the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) to figure out why this funding disparity existed and how to accelerate change so that ovarian cancer can be detected early with better treatment and support options for women.
D.O.A managing partner, Ebony Gaylor, said: “It was clear that the investment in cancer research has been wildly successful for some cancers in Australia. Interestingly, this happened to be the cancers that are more visible and a little more palatable to talk about. Sadly, with a less than 50% survival rate, ovarian cancer doesn’t have the same huge army of survivors advocating for change. Which is why we needed to find a new way to reach the hearts and minds of influential Australians.
“The Ovary Bouquet makes the problem visible…it’s a beautiful and unexpected gift, with a very tangible task. We’re stoked with the initial feedback from recipients and the conversations that the OCRF are now able to have with them to support their vision.”
The Ovary Bouquet was hand delivered with an accompanying report outlining the facts, stories of success and a tangible ask - to fund critical research into ovarian cancer with OCRF. The OCRF needs $6 Million over the next 3 years to help save the lives of 14,000 women and girls.
D.O.A engaged Thinkerbell as creative partner for the campaign.
Head creative tinker Regina Stroombergen said: “It’s been a privilege to work on such an important project. The Ovary Bouquet brings visibility to an otherwise unseen lethal cancer, and we hope that as each day passes and the bouquets slowly wilt away, people are reminded of the terrifyingly low survival rate, and that they have the power to help us change this.”
CEO of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCFR), Lucinda Nolan said: "Ovarian cancer has for too long been underfunded, unrecognised and largely misunderstood. We hope this project with D.O.A starts many conversations and the people and foundations of influence can recognise the opportunity to drive meaningful change with OCRF.”
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