Sachia Stonefeld Powell

Ironically, I started fundraising for ovarian cancer research six years before my own diagnosis – prompted by the keynote address of a gynecological oncologist.  In 2017, that fundraising effort became personal when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and the keynote speaker became my oncologist. 

After I emerged from chemo, I discovered two things.  First, that ovarian cancer has a low survivor rate, and yet ovarian cancer research has been – and remains – critically underfunded.  And second, that many researchers won’t ever meet a potential beneficiary of their career-long efforts.  I set out to raise as many funds as I could, and to collaborate with scientists to provide the unique and indispensable perspective that survivors can offer, as well as to regularly express our collective gratitude for the work that they do.   

And I discovered something even more profound: due to the relatively low number of ovarian cancer diagnoses, the low survival rate, and the grueling treatments, there are few people with the experience, ability, and interest to be survivor advocates.  And like many ovarian cancer survivors, I keep losing my survivor friends.  Therefore, I must be the voice of those who can no longer speak for themselves. 

Because research funding and survivor-scientist collaboration are essential to saving lives, I established a foundation with my oncologist to accomplish both.

You can find information about the Powell-Drescher Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, which intends to power the future of ovarian cancer research by endowing funds and championing collaboration between scientist and survivor, on Instagram and Facebook @powelldrescher. You can also find Sachia on Instagram and Facebook @sachiastonefeldpowell.