Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Branch to Open in South Jersey

LONGPORT — Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation is opening a South Jersey branch. The first meeting will be held Tue., Aug. 10, at 6:30 p.m. at Longport Borough Life Guard Station at 33rd and Atlantic Ave., Longport.
Street parking will be available. Alice Martin is starting this branch in memory of her daughter, Maryalyce Martin Dolan, who passed away from Primary Peritoneal Cancer, an offshoot of Ovarian Cancer.
Dolan had a prophylactic hysterectomy after genetic testing showed she had the BRAC 1 gene. She wanted desperately to live to see her children graduate from college.
She was not alive to see them graduate from fourth and seventh grades.
Martin has been associated with the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation for the last three years after losing Maryalyce.
She became aware of the need for a South Jersey branch during registration for the last 5k run in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. When she realized the number of people attending the race, either joining a team or starting a team from the South Jersey towns, she felt it necessary to have a branch locally so that as many woman as possible could become aware of the signs of the disease.
The CAl25 blood test only shows its presence when it is Stage 3 or 4. There are no diagnostic tools available for early detection. The signs are subtle until it is too late.
Many physicians tell women that their UTIs, bowel problems, bloating, etc. are because they have problems at home, work or other unrelated issues. They are often given pain meds and tranquilizers. This is what happened to Dolan and many other women, Martin stated.
Sandy Rollman Foundation donates 90 percent of monies collected to research at HUP, Fox Chase, Lankanau or other Institutes doing research.
They are located at 2010 West Chester Pike, Suite 300 Havertown, Pa. 19083; (610) 446-2272.
It is run by Robin Cohen and Andrea Way (Sandy Rollman’s sister). Cohen and Way started the organization in Cohen’s living room, and it draws thousands to the 5K run and other events during the year.
Those who wish to attend the first meeting or would like to be a member to receive updates of meetings and new information should email me: maryalycemartindolan@comcastnet.
The organization will soon be asking for volunteers to help with Turn The Town Teal campaign, which is the entire month of September. Those who plan to attend should respond as soon as possible. Those who cannot make that meeting should remember to sign up name, address, ZIP code, phone number, and email.