Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation Announces 11th Annual Walkathons

92.3 NOW AT MORRISTOWN WALK

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --  In honor of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation (KOH), a non-profit organization that raises awareness and funds and acts as the primary advocate for ovarian cancer activism in the New Jersey area, will kick off the first of three annual walkathons on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at the Loantaka Brook Reservation in Morristown.      

New KOH Board Member, Serena Schmitz, Oncology Research Coordinator, Saint Clare's Health System, will be serving as this year's Walkathon Coordinator for all three walks.  "It is an honor for me to take on this role as I have been so touched and inspired by the many strong women I have had the pleasure to know while working with ovarian cancer survivors over the past several years, first at Morristown Memorial Hospital and now at Saint Clare's."  After attending her first walk in Morristown, Schmitz remarked, "Last year was my first experience with the KOH walk and I knew I wanted to get more involved as I am very passionate about this cause that certainly needs to receive more attention than it currently gets."      

Long-time KOH supporter, Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, will be at the Morristown walk as will DJs from 92.3 NOW.  All walks will have food, entertainment and prizes.  This year the Morristown walk will have a Survivor's Tent and some fun children's activities, including a kaleidoscope craft booth.  

Following the Morristown walk there will be two additional walkathons.  On Sunday, September 19, the Castle family will host the annual Lyndhurst walkathon at the Richard W. DeKorte Park.  The final weekend, on Saturday, September 25, the annual shore walkathon, hosted by the original Jersey Shore Girls, will take place on the boardwalk in Avon-by-the-Sea.  Once again, all three walks are being organized by Kaleidoscope of Hope (KOH), a New Jersey-based nonprofit created ten years ago by three ovarian cancer survivors.  The mission of the foundation is to raise funds for ovarian cancer research and increase awareness of the symptoms of the disease.  

Over the past ten years, KOH has raised over $1.7 million through annual walkathons, golf outings and an annual Spring Gala/Silent Auction. All proceeds from these three events will support and fund research initiatives aimed at finding early detection as well as improved treatment options.

About KOH

The Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation was founded by three ovarian cancer survivors: the late Gail MacNeil of Chatham Township and Patricia Stewart-Busso, Lambertville, and Lois Myers of Harding Township.  Its fundraising walkathons in September, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, have become an inspirational event for those touched by ovarian cancer.  The three walks, in Morris, Bergen and Monmouth Counties, draw hundreds of participants and raise thousands of dollars.  

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women and the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer in the US.  The American Cancer Society estimates that about 21,550 new cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed in 2009 and 14,600 women died from ovarian cancer. If detected in its early stages, survival from ovarian cancer is 90-95 percent.  For more information about the Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation, please visit www.kohnj.org.

SOURCE Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation