As they do every year, Australian fashion brand Camilla and Marc are urging the world to help them fight the battle against ovarian cancer.
Launching their 2022 global campaign, named ‘Ovaries. Talk About Them’, their work is dedicated to “changing the face of the deadliest female cancer”. Thankfully, Camilla and Marc are actively drawing more attention to ovarian cancer than ever before.
“Ovarian Cancer is the deadliest female cancer—yet still, there is no test. Women deserve a test,” Creative Director Camilla Freeman Topper said. “My mother passed away 28 years ago and statistics have barely changed, largely due to funding and awareness.”
In 2021, an estimated 1720 Australian women were faced with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, with an estimated 1042 diagnosed losing their battle against the aggressive disease, according to Cancer Australia.
“Through this bold campaign, we are driving a new conversation for ovarian cancer so that women can feel confident to talk about their bodies, and rightly claim what they deserve as a basic healthcare right.”
Not only are there no warning signs for the life-threatening disease, but there is no test or cure. With close to 300,000 new cases annually and worldwide, the brand is advocating for the safety of women’s lives. “Women deserve a test,” the brand says, adding “women deserve not to feel shame about their body parts. Women deserve to not be dismissed when they know something is not right with their bodies”.
This year, Camilla and Marc are working tirelessly to lower those statistics by announcing a cumulative $1 million fundraising goal as part of its ‘Ovaries. Talk About Them’ campaign.
Now in its third year, every dollar that is raised as part of the campaign will be directly sent to Associate Professor Caroline Ford at the University of New South Wales’ Ovarian Cancer Research Group, where they’re working to move an early detection test to clinical trials within the next four years.
“Women’s health issues have been overlooked and underfunded for too long,” UNSW’s Associate Professor Caroline Ford UNSW said. “Ovarian cancer is a devastating and deadly disease, frequently diagnosed too late.”
“Women deserve better and I’m proud to be part of a global movement shining a light on this disease and leading research to improve outcomes for all women. Funding from this campaign will directly fund research in my lab towards an early detection test for ovarian cancer.”
If successful, it could mean that early signs of ovarian cancer could be detected through a simple blood test for women all around the world, during an annual visit to a general practitioner.
Currently, ‘Ovaries. Talk About Them’ has raised an incredible AUD $544K that has been directly used by the UNSW Ovarian Cancer Research Centre to hire two key scientists, as well as a full-time nurse.
‘Ovaries. Talk About Them’ itself is a “poignant campaign focussed on the message ‘women deserve better'”, and offers a capsule collection in a palette of deep navy and cream with two unisex sweaters and two adult T-shirts, a children’s T-shirt, a cap and a canvas tote bag.
A first in the campaign’s history, this year’s collection includes a children’s option to “ensure the message is universal and touches every generation”.
If you’re interested in doing your part, the capsule collection will be available for a limited time and while stocks last, either online or at Camilla and Marc stores nationwide from May 2, 2022. And of course, 100 per cent of sales will be directed directly to the cause.
Unisex Ovarian Cancer Tee, $110 at Camilla and Marc.
Unisex Ovarian Cancer Hoodie, $220 at Camilla and Marc.
Unisex Ovarian Cancer Cap, $80 at Camilla and Marc.