FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – For the second consecutive year, four women from Freehold Township are working to make the public aware of multiple cancers through a campaign that features the sale of 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 cancer and childhood cancer. October is dedicated to the awareness of breast cancer. November is dedicated to the awareness of pancreatic cancer.
All four ribbon colors may be purchased for $5 and two ribbon colors may be purchased for $3 by emailing [email protected] or [email protected], or by visiting the Bows of Hope Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Bows-Of-Hope-574532056040891/
The campaign is being organized and run by residents Michele Thompson, Barbara Gandolfo, Jessica Walsh and Jill Rothstein. This year marks the second year of the coordinated campaign after the residents merged what had been individual awareness campaigns in 2016.
The women will be at the Freehold Township municipal building at 9.m. Aug. 26 as ovarian cancer and childhood cancer awareness efforts are recognized; at 9 a.m. Sept. 30 as breast cancer awareness efforts are recognized; and at 9 a.m. Nov. 4 as pancreatic cancer awareness efforts are recognized.
Thompson said her mother died of 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 and Eva LaPreta, who wanted to raise awareness of breast cancer after surviving a battle with the disease.
In 2013, pink ribbons were displayed throughout the community. LaPreta only lived to see one more awareness campaign before she died in 2014 following a recurrence of the disease.
Rothstein, whose father died of pancreatic cancer in 2008, then inquired about recognizing that disease 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.
“Freehold Township has been very supportive since day one when I turned Freehold teal,” Thompson said. “We would like to see more residents displaying bows on their property and helping us spread awareness.
“Many of us, if not all of us, know someone who has been faced with the challenges of cancer. If we can spread awareness to the signs and symptoms of various cancers, perhaps one day we will not have to hang bows to bring awareness, but to honor those lost,” she said.
Anyone who would like to participate in the campaign may sign up at signup.com for dates and locations to volunteer.
“We need volunteers to attend the kickoff, to hang bows, to take down bows, to sell bows and more,” Thompson said. “It is a great opportunity for students who need to fulfill volunteer hours.”