The City of Newark will receive a touch of teal in its annual effort to help raise awareness for ovarian cancer. Mayor Polly Sierer and Judy Yang, student president of Lori's Hands, along with other University of Delaware Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences students will pin teal bows on lamp posts along E. Main Street as part of "Turn The Towns Teal," a national campaign to promote awareness for ovarian cancer and its symptoms.

"With no way to test for ovarian cancer, knowledge and awareness are crucial for early detection," said Mayor Polly Sierer. "This annual effort to turn Newark teal is one way to draw attention to the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer and, hopefully, help save the life of a friend or neighbor."

The Turn The Towns Teal campaign is sponsored by the Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to increasing awareness and education, research, and assisting women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The ribbons will remain on the poles through September, which is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

"The teal bows are visual alerts, but the key is knowing the symptoms, which are subtle and may be mistaken for other conditions," explains Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation vice president Sally Oberle, who lost her sister Sidney to ovarian cancer and volunteers in her memory.

Lori's Hands is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has been involved with the Turn The Towns Teal effort for the past four years. The organization transforms UD students' understanding of community health by matching them with Newark residents living with chronic illness in meaningful, helping relationships. Community members receive in-home support and, in turn, educate next-generation health leaders about the experience of living with chronic illness.

"Turn The Towns Teal in Newark has become a welcomed tradition and we are honored to play a role an effort focused on saving lives," said Lori's Hands, Inc. board president Sarah LaFave. "Over the years, we've worked with several clients and families impacted by ovarian cancer, and we're proud to have this opportunity to give back in their honor."

According to the CDC, Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Each year, more than 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the United States. Outreach and awareness volunteers are always welcome; please contact Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation executive director and survivor Dorianne Short at president@deovariancancer.org or 302-998-6889. For more information about the Turn The Towns Teal campaign, or the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, visit

http://www.turnthetownsteal.org/.