5th Annual Jodi's Race for Awareness Set for June 7

DENVER, CO--(Marketwired - Mar 12, 2014) - The 5^th Annual Jodi's Race for Awareness, benefiting the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA), will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 7 in Denver's City Park. Presented by Cancer Treatment Centers of America, this popular community event boasts a 5k Run/Walk, a 1-Mile Family Walk and live entertainment; Channel 7's Chief Meteorologist, Mike Nelson will emcee the event. All money raised remains in Colorado and funds numerous programs that support women with ovarian cancer such as COCACares, Survivors Teaching Students, Nicki's Circle Support Groups, Ovarian Cancer Resource Manual, Comfort Kits and the annual Raise Awareness campaign.

Registration for the 2014 Jodi's Race for Awareness is underway online at www.jodisrace.org, with special early registration discounts available until April 15. Runners and walkers are encouraged to increase the impact of their participation by forming teams with their family, friends and coworkers. Great prizes will be awarded to the top fundraisers.

The first Race for Awareness in June 2010 was inspired by Colorado native Jodi Brammeier, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008. A young wife and mother, Brammeier believed she would have discovered the cancer earlier if she had been more aware of the symptoms. It became her goal to establish a race to raise awareness about ovarian cancer so that other women might find their cancer earlier and stand a better chance to win against the disease. Unfortunately, Brammeier lost her battle with ovarian cancer August 3, 2010; however, her memory lives on in the annual COCA fundraiser. In the four years since Brammeier's vision became a reality, the race has grown to 2,500 participants and raised more than $550,000 to support Colorado women affected by ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in females in the United States but it is the deadliest gynecologic cancer. An annual gynecological exam does not check for this cancer and there is no specific screening test for ovarian cancer so being able to recognize the symptoms, leading to early detection, is critical to saving lives. The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary urgency or frequency. 

The mission of the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance is to provide and to promote awareness and early detection of ovarian cancer through advocacy and education. To learn more about COCA and its programs, visit www.colo-ovariancancer.org.