Every eight hours, we lose an Australian woman to ovarian cancer.
Around 1720 Australian women are diagnosed each year and the five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 49%. These heartbreaking statistics include a cherished member of the Sista Fitness family.
Our beloved friend and staff member, Kellie.
Kellie bravely fought against ovarian cancer but was ultimately taken from us in 2021. Kellie’s passing was a great loss to the entire Sista Fitness community.
During her battle, she was a fierce advocate for raising awareness about the hard-to-detect disease. Ovarian cancer is often dubbed a ‘silent killer’ due to its vague, subtle and generic symptoms, such as tiredness, bloating, frequent urination, irregular menstruation, back pain and indigestion. Ovarian cancer usually isn’t screened for these complaints as they are often attributed to other possible causes.
There is still no early detection test for ovarian cancer and it cannot be picked up by a Pap smear. While tests and scans may show abnormalities, the only way to confirm a diagnosis is by taking a biopsy during surgery.
By the time many women reach this point, there is little hope.
Symptom awareness remains the most reliable form of early detection. Kellie was passionate about raising funds to develop a direct screening test. In her memory, Sista Fitness hosts an annual fundraising event to raise money for Ovarian Cancer Australia.
Ride for Research
Sista Fitness Midland | 7am – 9am | Saturday, May 13th
Secure your bike for $80 via the Sista App (under ‘memberships’ > ‘events’) or using this link to register. Places are strictly limited so be sure to get in quick.
We encourage everyone to wear blue or teal in honour of Kellie and the Ovarian Cancer Foundation.
You can also take part by purchasing a ticket for our raffle or an Ovarian Cancer Australia ribbon which will be available during the week, or by making a donation to Ovarian Cancer Australia.
If you’re not participating in the ride, we’d still love to see the Sista Fitness community come down on the day and show their support for a great cause, enjoy a coffee from Grow n Grind Coffee Van and wear your best blue.
P.S. If you’re participating in the Sista Lifestyle Challenge, you’ll get a bonus entry into the raffle for being involved in our Ride for Research.
We hope to see you there!
