By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Four Freehold Township women are working to make the public aware of cancers through a campaign that features ribbons of different colors.
The goal of Bows of Hope is to raise awareness of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and childhood cancer through the display of colored ribbons throughout the community.
Teal ribbons represent awareness of ovarian cancer, pink ribbons represent awareness of breast cancer, purple ribbons represent awareness of pancreatic cancer and gold ribbons represent awareness of childhood cancer.
September is dedicated to the awareness of ovarian and childhood cancer. October is dedicated to the awareness of breast cancer. November is dedicated to the awareness of pancreatic cancer.
Ribbons may be purchased at Opatut Park, at Michael J. Tighe Park and at the Jackson Mills Road playing fields during football, soccer, baseball and softball games. All four ribbon colors may be purchased for $5 and two ribbon colors may be purchased for $3.
The campaign is being run by residents Michele Thompson, Barbara Gandolfo, Jessica Walsh and Jill Rothstein. A kickoff event was held on Sept. 3.
Thompson said her mother died from ovarian cancer in 2012. In 2013, she placed teal ribbons around the township to raise awareness of the disease.
Thompson was subsequently contacted by Gandolfo, a breast cancer survivor who wanted to raise awareness of that disease. In 2013, pink ribbons were displayed throughout the community.
Rothstein, whose father died from pancreatic cancer in 2008, then inquired about recognizing that type of cancer through the display of purple ribbons.
Following the teal, pink and purple ribbon campaigns, Walsh inquired about raising awareness of childhood cancer to honor the memory of Jack Scherer, 16, who died in January 2016 after a battle with cancer.
“Together, along with the mayor and members of the Township Committee, we are working to educate the residents of Freehold Township and those outside Freehold Township and hoping to bring awareness to all of these cancers,” Thompson said.
“We are involving residents by asking for volunteers, young and old, to help display and sell ribbons each month to recognize a particular cancer. We will be selling bows at all of our sporting events and hoping that each and every resident joins us in displaying Bows of Hope,” she said.