The lights on downtown Arkansas River bridges shone teal on Aug. 31, the eve of the start of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. To celebrate and watch the lighting, the Arkansas Cancer Coalition hosted Teal Light Night at the Little Rock Marriott.
Board member Alesa Garner welcomed guests and said the evening was to honor survivors and further educate Arkansans about the cancer.
The hope of the nonprofit is that research will bring about an early detection test for the cancer, known as the silent killer. (Why silent killer? Because unlike other cancers, ovarian cancer's symptoms appear very late-stage.)
The coalition is a "strictly volunteer" organization.
The ovarian cancer survivors were easy to spot. They wore tiaras with teal ribbons. They and other guests had fun at a photo booth with many teal-colored accessories and props, and enjoyed drinks, a buffet of appetizers and music out on the terrace. There was also a silent auction and raffle.
Board member Leah Elliott was event chairman. The river bridges will also be lighted in teal the last weekend in September (which shares calendar space with prostate cancer, whose awareness color is blue).
-- Story and photos by Cary Jenkins
High Profile on 09/13/2015