LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION recognizing the Hope for Heather Foundation's
National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and the Teal Ribbon Walk on
September 27, 2009

WHEREAS, It is custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to those
institutions in our community that help to protect community members and
educate the public on issues of importance to everyone; and
WHEREAS, Primary among such institutions are those who, year after
year, diligently seek to help those in need, and assist families in
crisis; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with long-
standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to recog-
nize the Hope for Heather Foundation upon the auspicious occasion of
National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and the Teal Ribbon Walk, recog-
nizing its importance to our community and the integral role this fine
organization has played in the lives of so many; and
WHEREAS, The Hope for Heather Foundation is named for Heather Weeks, a
23-year-old dancer who worked for the Ovarian Cancer Research Founda-
tion, but lost her life to colon cancer; and
WHEREAS, Heather wanted those closest to her to continue to work with
the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation and provide awareness about this
disease and educate people and raise funds for cancer research, so to
honor her wishes, her family and friends are doing just that; and
WHEREAS, It is expected that more than 21,000 women will be diagnosed
with ovarian cancer and 15,000 women will lose their lives from the
disease this year alone in the United States, and in New York State, it
is estimated that 1,530 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 970
women will die from the disease; and
WHEREAS, Ovarian cancer is the most deadly of all the gynecological
cancers and if detected early and treated properly, survival rates
increase to more than 90 percent; and
WHEREAS, Overwhelmingly, those who have been touched by ovarian cancer
stress the need for increased education and awareness to the public, and
to date, there is no effective early detection test and no cure for
ovarian cancer, and therefore, the recognition of the symptoms is vital
to early detection, when the chance of survival is greatest; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing September as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness
Month will contribute significantly to the awareness of ovarian cancer
and will coincide with hundreds of grassroots activities across the
country, including health fairs, runs, fundraisers and events; and
WHEREAS, This year, the Hope for Heather Foundation is hosting
Heather's Teal Ribbon Walk on September 27, 2009, at Onondaga Lake Park
to raise awareness of ovarian cancer; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize the efforts of the Hope for Heather Foundation and the Teal
Ribbon Walk; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Frieda Weeks.