When Susan Sandoval died from ovarian cancer last May, her husband Julio wanted to do something about the “silent killer” that took his wife.
“It was something my wife would’ve wanted to have done — she wanted to make the public aware of how much of a killer ovarian cancer is,” Julio Sandoval said.
Julio Sandoval teamed up with the U’s OB/GYN department to put together a run that would raise awareness of ovarian cancer.
The ovarian cancer run was held at Sugar House Park last Saturday where more than 400 people arrived to honor Susan’s memory and support the cause.
“This run will really help raise money for research and raise public awareness of ovarian cancer — so many people don’t know much about it,” said Julie Kohler, an accounting specialist for the U’s center.
Ovarian cancer affects 3 percent of women nationally, but many women do not receive treatment in time to stop the cancer from spreading. Only 19 percent of ovarian cancer cases are caught early enough to be treated.
“It kills more people than breast cancer and it shouldn’t — we’re hoping women will go to be checked out more often to catch it earlier,” said Lisa Sandoval, Susan’s daughter and a senior in exercise and sports science at the U.
The ovarian cancer run offered a four-mile run, two-mile walk/run and a one-mile walk for anyone to participate.
“We’ve been advertising for weeks to friends and family, putting up fliers at gyms, on the radio — just trying to get a big turnout,” Lisa Sandoval said.
Most participants were given T-shirts and water bottles provided by Dan’s Grocery Store and Great Harvest Bread Company.
“Our goal was to give out all the T-shirts we had ordered, around 280 shirts, and we exceeded that by so much,” Julio Sandoval said.
“It was really good to see that many people there though,” Lisa Sandoval said. “So many there to honor my mom and to participate in the cause. It was really touching.”
Julio Sandoval hopes to make this an annual run.
“I hope it can be as big a success as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure of Breast Cancer. I’m sure our ovarian cancer run will continue to grow,” he said.
Stacey Border, a friend of Susan Sandoval, felt the run was really powerful and moving.
“Susan was always giving and helping others. I’d like to think this run helps her keep giving, by educating other women about the cancer,” she said.
Before her illness, Susan Sandoval worked at Primary Children’s Medical Center as a nurse with Kelly Kelso, who also participated in the run.
“I hope this has the same type of impact as the Komen Breast Cancer Run — a lot of women need to learn about ovarian cancer,” Kelso said.