It is commonly known that pink is the color for breast cancer… but did you know that teal is the color for ovarian cancer? Jenn Sommermann is a survivor of the disease- and has made it her goal to raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund or OCRF- while educating people along the way about this type of cancer. Through her 50 by 50 by 100 campaign- Sommermann participates in triathlons around the country- and will race in South Dakota at the end of August.
Just days before her 42nd Birthday in 2006- Jenn Sommermann was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. She says during her chemotherapy she saw an article for a triathlon series to benefit ovarian cancer research. At that point she committed that if she survived- she would race in the series.
“I was relatively new to triathlons. I started doing triathlons when I turned 40 because my best friend kind of challenged me to do it and- so I was relatively new to the sport- so I kind of took it as an opportunity to expand on something that I was already becoming pretty passionate about," says Sommermann. "And actually I really credit the sport with saving my life. It was only with the keen awareness of my body that I was able to detect that something was wrong with me. I’m using that for now as a vehicle to hopefully save other women’s lives."
Sommermann’s ultimate goal is to race in 50 triathlons in all 50 states by the time she is 50 years old- while raising 100 thousand dollars for the OCRF. She says the OCRF is a small organization dedicated to finding a method of early detection for ovarian cancer. Sommermann says social media has been a helpful fundraising tool- and she is thrilled with whatever donations she receives.
“One hundred percent of everything that I raise goes directly to the cause. I work four jobs to be able to pay for all this. It was really the commitment that I made when I survived this disease that I would give back," says Sommermann. "It’s costing me a fair amount of money and someone recently said to me- ‘Why didn’t you just cut them a check for that amount of money? It would’ve been easier on your body.’ But that would’ve really not done what I wanted to do. Not only am I trying to raise money here but it’s become a grass roots opportunity to educate men and women about signs and symptoms and early detection."
Sommermann will race in South Dakota at the end of August as her 49th state- and will end her campaign in Hawaii.
Sommermann has raised approximately 97 thousand dollars so far and is confident she will reach her goal of 100 thousand.