| | Published October 23rd, 2024
| Local teens swim to raise awareness and funds to fight ovarian cancer when it hits too close to home
| | | By Vera Kochan |  | | From left, Brody Suba, Asha Spitzer, Berit Holms Suba, and Cael Suba all wearing ovarian cancer awareness t-shirts. Photo Vera Kochan |
Campolindo High School junior, Asha Spitzer (16) joined forces with Miramonte High School junior Brody Suba (16) and his freshman brother Cael (14) in helping to bring awareness to ovarian cancer after the boys' mother and aunt were both diagnosed in 2021.
According to Berit Holms Suba, the boys' mom, "Brody and Cael noticed the disparity between awareness campaigns around well-funded colon cancer and breast cancer research, but never saw or heard anything about ovarian cancer awareness. They also noticed their aunt and mom have been using breast cancer meds which aren't completely effective in the fight against ovarian cancer because of the lack of resources around ovarian cancer. There are just not a lot of drug options for the patients."
All three teens have participated as swim teammates since 2013, so fundraising through swimming-related activities was an easy decision. Also high on their list was to bring attention to a disease that went misdiagnosed for both Berit (48) and her sister, Brigid Holms (52), who lives in Connecticut.
"My sister was vomiting for a year and tried to get help, but it was during COVID and tough to be seen by a doctor," explained Berit. "I experienced bloating and felt pain on my right side. I went into Urgent Care and was treated for a urinary tract infection. The x-ray showed a kidney stone, and they thought that was the problem. After still getting the pain, I had an ultra sound where an 18-centimeter tumor was discovered."
After a successful hysterectomy with follow-up chemo-therapy, Berit was pronounced cancer-free. However, it wasn't long before some tumors returned. Besides chemo, she has had radiation treatments and will soon go to Houston, Texas to participate in clinical trial treatments. Brigid is also still fighting the disease.
"I felt the injustice that a wonderful person like Berit has to battle this disease," stated Spitzer. "She was always a presence for helping at swim meets. I was 14 when she was diagnosed, and I felt helpless to fix the issue. It seemed natural to do something that was swimming-related."
Spitzer opened a GoFundMe account that raised approximately $10,000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) through her participation in the Escape from Alcatraz event. Over the last three years she swam with a kayak escort from the island in the San Francisco Bay all the way to Aquatic Park. She plans to participate in other events in order to support Brody and Cael's fundraising efforts.
The Suba brothers took their lead from Berit's idea to create Ovarian Cancer Equity and established a website geared toward community support for patients, awareness campaigns through educational events, and research fundraising in order to "accelerate the development of alternative therapies due to the disease's resistance to standard treatments."
"It was scary," said Brody when the boys first learned of their mother's diagnosis. During the interview for this article, both boys were wearing teal-colored t-shirts bearing the words "I wear teal for Mom." Unlike the popular color of pink for breast cancer awareness, teal has not had the deserved exposure for ovarian cancer awareness, something the boys would like to change.
Besides working on a letter-writing campaign to members of congress, Brody and Cael plan on "contacting famous people who have been struck with ovarian cancer for their support."
? The teens held a 20-mile virtual walk/run/bike/swim in September (ovarian cancer awareness month) to raise funds. "Five people participated," Brody explained "We did the swim part, and the others did the rest. People could donate whatever they could, and we're keeping the competition open until Dec. 31." So far the fundraiser has taken in about $2,000. For more information about their website visit: www.ovariancancerequity.org. For information about symptoms visit: www.OvarianCancerProject.org. |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA