Volunteers Turn Doylestown Teal To Raise Awareness Of A Deadly Disease

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Doylestown has taken on the color of ovarian cancer awareness for the month of September thanks to a band of volunteers who spent Saturday turning the town teal.

Teal ribbons are now adorning lampposts and trees throughout the business district to make women and men aware of ovarian cancer, its often subtle symptoms and the risk factors involved.

“Everyone does their part in Doylestown and all of you being here today is showing what a caring and wonderful community we are,” former Doylestown Borough Councilwoman Joan Doyle told the gathering of volunteers.

Doyle, who lost her older sister, Anita Stein, to the disease, has organized the Turn the Town Teal awareness event for the past 15 years.

“You can tell I’m passionate about this by my teal hair, my teal sunglasses and if I bleed I’d probably bleed teal,” said Doyle. “This is all about directing attention to the symptoms and risk factors for ovarian cancer and catching this disease early to give people a fighting chance.”

Doylestown's Team Teal. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Elizabeth Bertolet of Chalfont and State Rep. Tim Brennan add a teal ribbon to a lamppost on State Street. Bertolet lost her aunt, Nancy Phillips, to the disease. She also has a surviving friend and cousin. "Joan Doyle is a hero to all of us for putting this on," said Brennan. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Members of the Doylestown Rotary Club helped Turn the Town Teal. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Doyle was joined by Mayor Noni West who presented a proclamation declaring support “for this worthy campaign” and designating September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in Doylestown Borough.

“We are proud to display the ribbons of cancer awareness throughout our downtown and we call upon residents, organizations and healthcare providers to raise awareness of ovarian cancer as well as all cancers and the importance of early detection to help those in our community live longer and healthier lives,” said Mayor West.

Also joining Doyle and Mayor West was Jane MacNeil, the national president of Turn the Towns Teal and sister-in-law of Turn the Towns Teal founder, Gail MacNeil, who lost her life to the disease.

“This is such an important crusade,” said MacNeil. “I’ve been doing this for 17 years. And for the past five to seven years we’re seeing more younger women in their 30s and 40s being diagnosed. One has to know the symptoms and you are helping to spread the word,” she told the volunteers.

The gathering also heard from Buckingham resident Vanda Soldati, a regional manager with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC), a national nonprofit that works to raise awareness and funds to combat the disease.

In July, Vanda traveled halfway across the world with Team Teal to climb to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise awareness of the disease. The team was made up of six survivors, caregivers and legacy family members who had lost loved ones to the disease.

"People asked why did we do this? My joke was, 'Well, if we walked around the local park we really wouldn't capture anyone's attention. But if we go all the way across the world to Africa and climb the tallest mountain we'll grab people's attention.

"Whether it's climbing a mountain or tying a ribbon around a lamppost in Doylestown, you will grab somebody's attention. And from that attention, hopefully people will learn about the disease, get involved and support the effort and that will trickle down to hopefully one day saving lives."

Vanda said out of the 15 who set out for the summit, 14 made it to the top, including all six survivors. "They raised over $300,000 to fight the disease and hopefully raised some attention, because this disease still needs it," she said.

Team Teal at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

"For the cancer survivors, it was a way for them to remember that they can survive this disease, they can live full, productive lives. For people who lost loved ones to the disease, like myself, it shows the ovarian cancer community that we're going to continue the legacy of our loved ones and fight for them.

"Whether you climb a mountain or hang a bow, you're making a difference. You're raising awareness of a disease and maybe saving a life," said Vanda.

Before heading out to teal the commercial core of Doylestown, Doyle recognized the Ovarian Cancer Warriors who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and have either survived or are still battling the disease. She also remembered those lost to the disease.

Adding a ribbon on East State Street are, from left, Hank Brink of Doylestown, Ro Molyneux of Montgomeryville and Mary Swansen of Doylestown. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Ovarian cancer survivor Betsy Payne with Joann McHugh who continues to battle the disease. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

"I’m always uplifted by honoring women survivors and remembering women who have lost their battle with ovarian cancer," said Doyle. "They are the faces and stories of ovarian cancer and the reason why it is essential for women to learn the subtle symptoms and risk factors for what is called ‘the silent disease.’

“Today’s ovarian cancer awareness event was very gratifying on many levels," Doyle added. "We had an excellent turnout of volunteers, including Doylestown Rotary members who can be counted on to volunteer each year to tie teal ribbons on Broad Street, one of our longest routes.

“I am honored that Jane MacNeil, president of Turn The Towns Teal, again came to the Doylestown launch and that Vanda Soldati spoke about her recent climb to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro on behalf of NOCC," said Doyle.

MacNeil praised the efforts of Doyle and her volunteers who decorated the town in close to 400 ribbons on Saturday. "I am so impressed with what Joan is doing here. And I'm going to use this a model for all my volunteers," she said.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort
• Vague but persistent gastrointestinal upset such as gas, nausea and indigestion
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Frequent and/or urgency of urination in the absence of infection
• Unexplained changes in bowel habits
• Ongoing unusual fatigue
• Menstrual changes
• Pain during intimacy