Ovarian cancer charity set up in memory of mother
Sim MatarazzoA charity is being launched in memory of a woman from Wolverhampton, to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and fundraise for research.
It was set up by Sim Matarazzo from Codsall, in the West Midlands, following the death of her 56-year-old mother from ovarian cancer in December.
She said Suki Bhara from Whitmore Reans had been "the happiest, warmest, most loving soul" and she wanted to do something to help other families.
As well as the fundraising, she plans to hold regular coffee mornings, starting on 4 July, to give people a place to get together and talk.
In its first month, The Ovarian Circle has raised more than £3,000, Matarazzo said.
She said her mother's decline had been "very sudden and very unexpected" and she had died within a week of being admitted to New Cross hospital.
Matarazzo said doctors told her the cancer had probably been growing for a number of years before it was detected.
One of her aims now is to get more women going to the doctor if they have concerns.
"People should definitely be encouraged to go to the doctor and ask for scans," she said.
She described ovarian cancer as a "silent killer" and said it was important to spread awareness of the symptoms.
The NHS website lists the main symptoms as:
- A swollen tummy or feeling bloated
- Pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between your hips (pelvic pain)
- No appetite or feeling full quickly after eating
- An urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often
Matarazzo said the charity was "all coming together a lot better than I'd originally planned".
She said she hoped that within the next three years she could set up a space to offer therapy for families affected by the disease, adding that the charity's name was designed to convey a circle of support and "everyone coming together as a community".
"I hope The Ovarian Circle can become a place of hope, support, education and change," she said.
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