For the third straight year, Ashley Barton is organizing a women\u2019s hockey fundraiser inspired by her mother, Judy, who died of ovarian cancer<\/p>\n
The Sault\u2019s Ashley Barton is once again spearheading an annual hockey game to raise funds for ovarian cancer research.<\/p>\n
A group of local women will face off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 23 at the Northern Community Centre\u2019s Rink 1 for the third annual Hockey Fights Ovarian Cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the third year that I’ve been doing this ovarian cancer fundraiser hockey game and over the three years we\u2019ve raised over $10,000,\u201d Barton told SooToday.<\/p>\n
For this year, $3,645 has been raised so far.<\/p>\n
Funds\u00a0go to Ovarian Cancer Canada for ovarian cancer research.<\/p>\n
The annual games strike a personal chord for Barton.<\/p>\n
Her mother Judy died of ovarian cancer April 8, 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mom and I watched both NHL and women’s international hockey together. She came to my games throughout my childhood and adulthood,\u201d Barton said.<\/p>\n
Moms and daughters will be taking to the ice for the Hockey Fights Ovarian Cancer game.<\/p>\n
Most recently a goaltender in the Sault Ste Marie Women’s Hockey League, Barton has played all positions on the ice over a 30-year period.<\/p>\n
Due to an injured ankle, she won\u2019t be participating in this year\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ll drop the puck at the beginning of the game but I won’t be playing this year. I played in the first two games in the first two years, but I won’t be playing this year because my ankle\u2019s just not strong enough yet,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Twenty-eight players, enough for two teams, have signed up for this year\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
Barton said she would like to see more players join so that a tournament can be held next year.<\/p>\n
A registered nurse who works for Health 811, Barton said a cure for ovarian cancer is of course the ultimate goal but agreed screening for the disease would be a good first step in the right direction.<\/p>\n
Current procedures such as blood tests and ultrasounds have not been able to detect ovarian cancer in its earliest stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s screening for cervical cancer, there’s screening for breast cancer. There’s got to be some research to find a way to screen for ovarian cancer,” she said.<\/p>\n
Because ovarian cancer symptoms are vague – such as abdominal pain – and easily mistaken as signs of other illnesses, as many as 80 per cent of cases are not diagnosed until they have reached advanced stages.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you’re a woman having any kind of abdominal symptoms, get to the doctor. Don’t wait,\u201d Barton said.<\/p>\n
If a doctor suspects ovarian cancer, a woman should be referred to a gynaecologic oncologist for diagnosis through surgical biopsy, says Ovarian Cancer Canada.<\/p>\n
More information on ovarian cancer symptoms, research and fundraising, visit the Ovarian Cancer Canada website<\/a>.<\/p>\n