Robin's Reflections – May
May 14, 2025
The past month at the OCRF has been both moving and inspiring. From heartfelt moments with our major partner Witchery on World Ovarian Cancer Day/White Shirt Day, to the stellar Mother’s Day Classic Foundation events around the country, the last thirty days have reinforced the power of the ovarian cancer community and OCRF to do incredible things together.
We’ve also made significant strides in our advocacy by establishing the Global Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium and supporting the Gynaecological Cancer Transformation Initiative with sector colleagues.
Read on for more!
Launching the Global Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium
On 8 May, World Ovarian Cancer Day we launched the Global Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium with our peers Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (US), Ovarian Cancer Canada, and Ovarian Cancer Action (UK). We first met at the Helene Harris Memorial Trust International Forum on Ovarian Cancer last October, a major scientific meeting hosted every four years by Ovarian Cancer Action.
At the ‘HHMT’, we shared our common goal of transforming ovarian cancer survival rates in this generation, and agreed to work together across borders to accelerate progress in this field.
Together, the Consortium announced a brand new $1 million USD AI Accelerator Grant, a first of its kind initiative for these organisations and ovarian cancer research. This new grant highlights the importance of collaboration to change outcomes for the future.
Pictured (L-R): Tanya Vrionis, CEO, Ovarian Cancer Canada, Audra Moran, President and CEO, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, Cary Wakefield, CEO, Ovarian Cancer Action, Robin Penty, CEO, OCRF
Mother’s Day Classic 2025, a day we’ll all remember
It’s days like the Mother’s Day Classic that highlight just how generous and fabulous the Australian community really is… The OCRF team and volunteers spread out across the nation, from Perth to Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart, to join the MDC community and bring the teal!
It was a fantastic event in Sydney, where I was lucky enough to join Zara Lawless, CEO of the Mother’s Day Classic and Cleola Anderiesz, CEO of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. A spectacular morning filled with media interviews and great chats with participants - as well as dancing and cheering on all the starters – it was a day to remember.
To the Mother’s Day Classic team, crews, volunteers, supporters, walkers, runners, families, friends and sponsors, thank you for everything! YOU make this event as special as it is, and one of OCRF’s firm favourites on the calendar. Fundraising is open until 30 June, so keep your eyes peeled across our social channels to be the first to know the 2025 fundraising tally.
Wrapping up the 17th Witchery White Shirt Campaign
The 17th annual Witchery White Shirt Campaign launched with a beautiful function at Café Sydney on 8 April and the public campaign has been going gangbusters ever since! On the day, OCRF ambassadors Lavania Parker and Jemima Leydon, along with OCRF-funded researcher Professor Kristen Radford, powerfully shared their stories with host Sarah Abo, highlighting why the White Shirt Campaign is so impactful and important to them. I spoke about the progress we’ve made, and how to remain hopeful in the face of our many losses.
This year’s gorgeous OCRF White Shirt and White Jean was designed by Margie Woods from Viktoria & Woods, in collaboration with Witchery. On 8 May, we celebrated this iconic campaign with Margie and the Witchery head office team at a special celebration hosted by Laura Henshaw.
Proceeds are already over $560,000 and growing, a remarkable result for a campaign that just keeps going from strength to strength. As always, we are grateful for Witchery’s enduring support and legacy. It’s hard to overstate the impact this campaign has for raising awareness - hello, 400M impressions! - and raising much-needed funds for medical research.
All hail, Team Witchery. We love you!
Pictured: 2025 Witchery White Shirt Campaign ambassadors
Joint advocacy to government
On 19 April, we joined with the Australia and New Zealand Gynaecological Group and Ovarian Cancer Australia to announce the launch of the Gynaecological Cancer Translational Initiative (GCTI) with a public campaign. This initiative aims to revolutionise the diagnosis, treatment and care pathway for women with gynaecological cancers, and to this end, we’re working to secure a significant funding commitment from the federal government.
With the return of the current government, we’re looking forward to working with Minister Mark Butler, Minister for Health, and Rebecca White, the new Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Indigenous Health and Women, toward this critical investment for all those affected by gynaecological cancers.
Out in the regions and cities…
Our team has been travelling a lot over the last month. We hosted a community fundraising forum and research lab tour in Brisbane; joined community fundraisers in Mackay and Caroline Springs; and I write to you having just returned to Melbourne from the Central Coast in NSW. Please let us know if you’ve spotted an OCRF team member in the wild and give them a shout out! They really care, and it’s a privilege to lead them.
Our annual appeal is just around the corner, too, so keep an eye on your postbox for this year’s package!
Sincere thanks to you for your steadfast support - it’s what makes everything we do possible.
Robin Penty
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