Fashion retailer Black Pepper and Ovarian Cancer Australia are joining forces again this Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to raise funds and awareness for Australia's deadliest female cancer.
The pair have launched a marketing campaign featuring four women who have been affected by ovarian cancer, which will be rolled out across 80 of its stores nationwide and via online and social media through the month of February.
Since the partnership began more than 10 years ago, Black Pepper has raised over $800,000 for Ovarian Cancer Australia, which provides crucial support for ovarian cancer sufferers, including free access to specialist ovarian cancer Teal Nurses who support and are available to answer questions 24/7, access to counselling and psychology sessions, support groups, information kits and other support services.
The pair’s new campaign features 69-year-old Anna, 39-year-old Katie, 56-year-old Karen and 25-year-old Destinee, all diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Their aim is to share their stories in the hope it could save lives.
“These four women are truly brave and their willingness to share their stories demonstrates remarkable courage,” Black Pepper spokesperson Rachel Digby said.
“We don’t yet have a screening test for ovarian cancer, and not enough Australians know about it or what to look out for, which is why raising awareness is so critical.
“Through this partnership, we're proud to stand alongside these women to help raise awareness and vital funds for Ovarian Cancer Australia.”
The four women in the campaign are together for a lunch, with each wearing Black Pepper clothing, including a specially designed scarf, blouse and t-shirt. A portion of sales from these particular items will go toward Ovarian Cancer Australia’s cause.
The campaign features the women coming together over lunch, sharing their stories and uniting over a common battle. They are wearing Black Pepper clothing, including a specially designed scarf ($29.99), blouse ($199) and t-shirt ($39.99) with a portion of sales supporting Ovarian Cancer Australia. The range also includes pens and ribbons that are available in-store.
While ovarian cancer is often considered an older woman's disease, Destinee's story proves otherwise.
“I want people to realise that it can impact women of any age,” Destinee said. “This isn't a one in a million thing, there are a lot of us and young women's symptoms need to be taken seriously.
“We do exist. And I'm being very loud about it. I'm not going to be quiet until people start to listen. Black Pepper is listening and giving us a positive platform to share this information."
Ovarian cancer remains Australia's deadliest female cancer, claiming three women's lives every day. With no early detection test available, most women are diagnosed at advanced stages, after reporting symptoms that are easily mistaken as relating to other issues, where the five-year survival rate plummets to just 49 per cent.
Early diagnosis dramatically improves outcomes, offering a 90 per cent chance of survival.
OCA head of philanthropy and communications Sarah Goddard said often by the time women are experiencing symptoms, they might already be in stage 3 or 4 and that's why the survival rate for ovarian cancer is so poor.
"It's vital that we develop an early detection test for ovarian cancer to save lives, which is why fundraising and awareness campaigns like this are so important,” Goddard said.