Sisters raise awareness about ovarian cancer to honor mom

Three Colorado Springs sisters are raising awareness about ovarian cancer to honor their mom. September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

Mallory Leiting, Rachel Smitherman and Crissa Bonner are part of “Team Sue.” It was formed after their mom Sue, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013. Her battle ended six months ago.

“She was the most amazing woman ever,” Bonner said.

“She always was a fighter and never ever put herself in a victim role,” Leiting said.

Now, the sisters are continuing their mom’s mission of raising awareness about the disease. Ovarian cancer is often called the silent killer. There are no good screenings for it, and a Pap smear doesn’t detect it. The symptoms are bloating, eating less and feeling full, abdominal pain and trouble with the bladder.

“We were blindsided by this, and to know that we could help somebody to not have somebody go through what we’ve gone through, is a good feeling,” Leiting said.

Taking the lead from breast cancer awareness advocates, the team came up with the idea to have ovarian cancer awareness license plates available to Colorado drivers.

To do that, they first need 3,000 signatures from Colorado-registered vehicle owners, committed to buying a plate. They have hard copies and an online petition.

“To see that in our community, I could see my mom, so pleased with that,” Smitherman said.

The sisters are participating in the Be Ovary Aware 5k Run 3k Walk Sunday.