Community Corner

Ovarian Cancer Survivor Fights to Save Women

Jill Pall of Merrick is on a mission to raise money for an early detection project to stop women from dying from ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer survivor Jill Pall of Merrick is on a mission to raise money for an early detection project to stop women from dying from the disease.

"There is no early detection test and 70 percent diagnosed will die," Pall said. 

With less than 30 days left in its fundraising campaign, Pall continues her effort to help Kicking For The Dream, raise money to fight ovarian cancer.

Pall has already raised more than $5,000 of her $10,000 goal.

“I’ve designated my fundraising efforts to go to a young investigator’s early detection research project at Memorial Sloan Kettering,”  Pall said.

Kicking For The Dream was created by Billy Cundiff, a kicker for The Cleveland Browns, as a way to support the Colleen's Dream Foundation.

Colleen’s Dream Foundation was started in 2012 and supports research for early detection and improved treatment for ovarian cancer.

One in 69 women will develop ovarian cancer in her lifetime. 

Pall has fought the disease for more than seven years. 

"I had presented to a gynecologist with all of the symptoms of ovarian cancer but was told I was fine and my pain was normal," she said. "In fact, the doctor told me to take over the counter pain medication and to come back in a year. Had I listened to her instead of going to the hospital, I probably would not have survived my cancer.”

Because of the experience, Pall said that she knew that she had to do something to make sure other women didn’t have a similar experience. 

Pall, who had been in non-profit work for over a decade, looked for an ovarian cancer project she felt was making a difference. She heard about Kicking for the Dream through social media. 

“My goal is to make sure everyone I know is aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and that they spread awareness among their network,” Pall said. “Together, we can change the statistics of ovarian cancer. I truly believe that this project will help the future of ovarian cancer research and treatment." 

To help Pall reach her fundraising goal click here. 


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