A small group of ovarian cancer survivors, including Molly Cade, Kris Warn, Susan Kushner, Betty Noble, Joan Weinstein and Pat Rietz, gather for dinner and talk about the lack of awareness regarding ovarian cancer and the need for support.

The discussion that evening gave birth to Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MOCA).

A Board of Directors was formed with nine women, seven of whom are ovarian cancer survivors. The board harnesses its passion and works to build an organization that will bring change – more money for ovarian cancer research, more awareness of the disease, and more support for survivors.

Molly Cade was named President and Kris Warn, Vice President. These two vibrant, charismatic women give generously of their time and spirit to grow MOCA.

November 16 – MOCA hosted its first official meeting at Richfield Lutheran Church and 30 women attended the meeting.

MOCA forms a Medical Advisory Board consisting of numerous gynecologic oncologists in the state.

MOCA becomes a working partner with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA).

MOCA developed a partnership with the Women’s Cancer Resource Center.

MOCA was recognized by the American Cancer Society.

MOCA members attend the Third Annual Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Conference (OCNA) in Washington D.C.

MOCA members meet with Minnesota’s congressional delegation to lobby for patient bill of rights, additional funds for Department of Defense Research and hearings regarding genetic discrimination.

MOCA launched its website: www.mnovarian.org.

September 16 – The First Annual Silent No More Walk Run for Ovarian Cancer is held at Rosland Park in Edina. $108,000 was raised for research and programs associated with MOCA.

As a result of money raised from the first Walk/Run, MOCA awarded $91,000 for two ovarian cancer research proposals from the University of Minnesota.

MOCA and the Women’s Cancer Resource Center establish an ovarian cancer support group.

May 15 – MOCA held its First Annual meeting at Richfield Lutheran Church.

September 15 – The Second Annual Silent No More Walk Run for Ovarian Cancer was held at Rosland Park in Edina. $122,000 was raised.

September 21 – The First Annual Golf Shoot-Out Benefit was held in honor of Susan Kushner, a founding board member, thanks to her and her husband Barry’s friendship with Michael Patterson of King Companies. The event was held at Oak Glen Country Club in Stillwater. Just over $20,000 was raised.

MOCA received a $13,000 one-year grant from the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA) and GlaxoSmithKline Global Community Partnerships for “Grand Rounds” project to help educate primary care physicians about ovarian cancer.

The Shelly Ross Memorial Fund is established by Shelly’s three daughters, Stephanie, Jennifer and Pam, in honor of their mother who passed away in 2000.

MOCA moved out of Molly Cade’s house and into the Offices of Eastlund, Solstad, Cade & Hutchinson, LTD.

The Young Survivor Network is launched by two MOCA members, Sarah Mahanna and Jill Rosenberg, who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer before age 30. The focus of this group is to address the unique needs of young women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, including long term hormone replacement therapy, confronting a “lifetime of fear,” building families, sexuality and body image.

February -- MOCA hired the first paid staff person, Program Director Kathleen Gavin. In October, Kathleen was named Executive Director.

March 4 -- MOCA Vice-President and Co-Founder Kris Warn passed away.

MOCA awarded $130,748 for four ovarian cancer research grant proposals – two from the University of Minnesota and two from Mayo Clinic.

More than 20 MOCA members participate in Grand Rounds; training designed to address the barriers of early diagnosis of ovarian cancer and lack of appropriate diagnostic testing and referral. Over the course of the year, MOCA conducts this education training program, with a gynecologic oncologist or nurse practitioner and an ovarian cancer survivor, for 50 doctors at hospitals in the Twin Cities and across the state.

August 29 – The Second Annual Shoot-Out Benefit Golf Tournament is held and raised $29,200.

MOCA members create an ovarian cancer awareness quilt.

September 14 –The Third Annual Silent No More Walk/Run for Ovarian Cancer is held and raised $129,000.

September 29 – The First Annual “A Toast to Life” was held in honor of MOCA board member Merle Rosenberg and her daughter Jill, both ovarian cancer survivors. The event, hosted by family members and friends, raised $50,000 for MOCA’s ovarian cancer research program.

Survivor Laura Solarz was named President of the MOCA Board of Directors.

February 7 – Molly Cade was honored posthumously with a Star Award by the Minnesota Oncology and Hematology Foundation.

April 23 – The First Annual Calling All Angels Gala was held at the Calhoun Beach Club and raised $25,000 for MOCA. The event, hosted by the Franczyk/McLaughlin family in memory of Jane Franczyk and Kimberly Kincaid, featured a silent and live auction of artwork donated from the private collections of Wally and Jane Franczyk and Shelly Ross.

May 5 -- MOCA awarded $275,000 for four ovarian cancer research grant proposals – two from the University of Minnesota and two from Mayo Clinic.

Summer – MOCA expands paid staff to include Operations Manager Lynne Nystuen and Program & Events Manager Jean Heyer

August 12 – Human Resource Professionals of Minnesota hold their annual golf outing at Braemar Golf Course in Edina and donated $2,000 to MOCA.

August 15 – MOCA moved into its new home at 3751 Alabama Avenue South in St. Louis Park.

August 20 – MOCA’s Fourth Annual Golf Shoot-Out was held at Oak Glen Country Club in Stillwater and raised $35,000.

September 15 – UnitedHealth Group Corporate Systems hosts their Seventh Annual Golf Tournament for MOCA’s benefit, the event raised $73,000.

September 18 – The Fifth Annual Silent No More Walk Run for Ovarian Cancer was held at Rosland Park in Edina. Approximately 2,000 people participated and $140,000 was raised.

October 9 – The Third Annual “A Toast to Life” is held at Architectural Antiques with emcee Belinda Jensen from Kare 11. The event raised $50,000.

MOCA awarded $298,800 for four ovarian cancer research grant proposals – three from Mayo and one from the University of Minnesota – bringing the five year total to more than $1 million.

Saint Paul Jaycees incoming president Laura Chesney designates MOCA as its charity for the year and donated $1,026 from their Gala’s silent auction.

February 11 – The Second Annual Calling All Angels was held at the Calhoun Beach Club. This black and white gala, with a splash of red for Valentine’s Day, raised close to $25,000 for MOCA.

May -- Lisa McLaughlin and Merle Rosenberg were named Co-Presidents of MOCA’s Board of Directors. Lisa had been actively involved with MOCA for several years. She first heard about the organization when her stepmother Jane Franczyk was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Merle Rosenberg, a five-year survivor, joined the MOCA board in 2002.

June -- Lisa McLaughlin was recognized as a Heart of the Event Award recipient by Minnesota Monthly.

July 17-18 –The Annual Golf Shoot-Out was renamed Molly Cade Memorial Golf Tournament & Gala in honor of Molly Cade. The Fifth Annual tournament was held at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club in Lakeville. The event was tremendously successful and raised $100,000.

September 17 – The Sixth Annual Silent No More Walk Run for Ovarian Cancer was held. $200,000 is received from sponsorships, pledges, donations and registrations.

September 24 – The Fourth Annual “A Toast to Life” is held at Bachman’s Flagship Store in Minneapolis and raised $50,000 for MOCA’s ovarian cancer research program.

Teal “OVERCOME” wristbands sell like hotcakes. During the course of the year, more than 15,000 were sold by MOCA to raise awareness of ovarian cancer.

MOCA launches re-designed web site, thanks to a generous donation from Aware Web Solutions. MOCA board member Janice Born secured the donation. Content for the site was developed by ovarian cancer survivors Laura Devereaux, Sarah Noonan and Jill Rosenberg and MOCA staff members Jean Heyer and Lynne Nystuen.

February -- MOCA hired Kathy McGovern as Medical Education Program Manager to re-launch the Grand Rounds program and oversee the Survivors Training Medical Students program and other aspects of medical education outreach. During the course of the year, Grand Rounds presentations were made to 535 health care professionals.

Constance White replaced staff member Lynne Nystuen as Office Manager.

March 4 – The Third Annual Calling All Angels: Monte Carlo Casino Night Celebrating All Women with Ovarian Cancer was held at the Calhoun Beach Club. Just over $17,000 was raised.

April 21 -- MOCA awarded $316,605 for four ovarian cancer research grant proposals – three grants were awarded to the Mayo Clinic and one grant to the University of Minnesota. In the past six years, MOCA has awarded more than $1.3 million for ovarian cancer research in Minnesota.

May -- MOCA started a Southeastern Minnesota chapter in an effort to better serve members. The first fundraising event, held on May 19, was a 12-hour solo marathon swim by Chaplain Mary Johnson of the Mayo Clinic. $10,000 was raised.

July 23-24 --The Molly Cade Memorial Golf Tournament & Gala was held for the second year in a row at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club in Lakeville. More than 400 people attend the event. Approximately $85,000 was raised from the event.

August -- Ovarian cancer survivor Kristen Larson joins the MOCA staff, as the Public Education Manager.

MOCA introduced two new support groups: one in St. Paul and one in Monticello. A new group for Daughters Who Have Lost Their Mothers to Ovarian Cancer was also started.

September 6 -- MOCA was named KARE 11’s Agency of Distinction as part of the Eleven Who Care program.

September 11 -- MOCA Co-President Merle Rosenberg passed away.

September 16 – The Seventh Annual Silent No More Walk Run for Ovarian Cancer was held at Rosland Park in Edina. 2,400 people participated and $250,000 was raised.

October 22 – The Fifth Annual “A Toast to Life” was held at Five Restaurant & Street Lounge in Minneapolis in honor of Merle and Jill Rosenberg. More than $50,000 was raised for MOCA’s research program.

November 14 -- MOCA announced the first two recipients for the Anita Lubov Memorial Oncology Scholarship Fund: Karin Goodman and Kristie Heinen. Mrs. Lubov was an oncology nurse in Ohio, who died from ovarian cancer in 1999. The fund, established by her family, is available for currently practicing oncology nurses from Minnesota to attend national educational conferences.

November 30 -- MOCA purchased a small office building at 4604 Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis, thanks to the generous support of the Board of Directors and the financial support of the Shelly Ross Memorial Fund. The Women’s Cancer Resource Center, who previously owned the building, graciously donates much of their office equipment. Staff and volunteers donated their time, talent and resources to decorate, update and outfit MOCA’s new home.

January 12 – Johanna’s Law was passed, also known as "Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act." Johanna’s Law promotes the education and awareness of ovarian cancer, its risk factors and symptoms. The law is named for Johanna Silver Gordon, who died of ovarian cancer in 2000.

April – Six research projects totaling $365,710, including $25,000 for the first Molly Cade Memorial Research Grant, were awarded to researchers. Three went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and three went to the University of Minnesota.

May -- Calling All Angels-previously an Annual Gala is reformatted to individual parties throughout the state. The new aim is to celebrate with friends and neighbors to help spread awareness about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. More than a dozen parties were held with 500 in attendance and more than $14,000 was raised.

May 3 – A dedication for the Shelly Ross Memorial Meeting Room and Library at MOCA’s headquarters in Minneapolis is held. Shelly was part of the original group of women who founded MOCA. Before she died in 2000, she expressed interest in establishing a legacy for the organization. Her daughters establish the Shelly Ross Memorial Fund, part of which is used as a down payment on MOCA’s new headquarters. The meeting room is used for board, staff and support group meetings.

Summer – Karen Mulbarger joined the MOCA staff as the new finance manager. She previously served as treasurer of MOCA’s Board of Directors and became involved with the organization after her mother; Pauline was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2000.

July 20-21 – The Seventh Annual, Molly Cade Memorial Tournament & Gala was held at Brackett’s Country Club in Lakeville. More than 400 people participated and more than $100,000 was raised to support MOCA’s mission.

July 22 – The first annual meeting of the MOCA Medical Advisory Committee was held at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club in Lakeville. The board was created in recognition of the important role physicians and nurses play in MOCA’s growth and the development of its educational program

August 8-12 – MOCA teamed up with MOHPA (Minnesota Oncology Hematology, P.A.) to present an exhibit on ovarian cancer awareness at the Carver County Fair in Waconia.

September 15 – The Eighth Annual Silent No More/Walk Run for Ovarian Cancer was held at Rosland Park in Edina. More than $240,000 was raised.

Fall – A new deck replaced a worn deck on the back of the MOCA headquarters building in Minneapolis. The deck was built by the O’Noonan Construction Company, a full-service contractor. The company kindly donated the labor and materials for the addition.

October 14 – The Sixth Annual “A Toast to Life” is held at the Varsity Theater, in Minneapolis. Nearly $62,000 was raised to advance ovarian cancer research toward earlier detection, better treatment options and a cure.

November 3 – The Second Annual Silent No More Marathon Swim was held. Mary Johnson, chaplain at the Mayo Clinic; and Claire Casselman, a former Mayo Clinic social worker, and nearly 100 other volunteers swam a 12-hour marathon at the YMCA in Rochester. Nearly $12,000 was raised.

Five grants for ovarian cancer research totaling $375,000 were awarded to researchers; three from the Mayo Clinic and two from the University of Minnesota. In the past eight years, MOCA has awarded more than $2 million in research grants.

An estimated 900 people attend more than 20 Calling All Angels parties, from northern Iowa to northern Minnesota. Over $16,000 was raised.

May 30 – Judy Dockendorf, a teacher for 31 years, athletic director, coach and dean of students with the Minneapolis School district and also a very active member of the Board of Directors with MOCA, passed away. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1999, and joined the MOCA Board in October 2005.

Summer – Constance White, a MOCA staff member since 2006, was promoted to Operations and Events Manager, assuming responsibility for Communications, Events and Operations. Courtney Barrette joined MOCA as the new Program Assistant and Molly St. George joined MOCA as the Data Entry clerk.

July 20-21 – The Eighth Annual Molly Cade Memorial Tournament & Gala was held at Brackett’s Country Club in Lakeville. Special guest emcee was Greg Thunder of Twin Cities radio station KS95. More than $100,000 was raised.

August & September – MOCA launches OVARYACT, a public awareness campaign to coincide with Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The campaign highlights ovarian cancer symptoms and is geared for the general public, with billboards in the Twin Cities metro area and bathroom stall advertisements at the Minnesota State Fair, Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and Canterbury Downs. For more information please visit http://www.ovaryact.org/index.htm

September 13 – The Ninth Annual Silent No More Walk/Run for Ovarian Cancer was held at Rosland Park in Edina. More than $230,000 was raised. Governor Tim Pawlenty declares Sept. 13 Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar attended the event. Emcee is KARE-11’s anchorwoman, Julie Nelson. More than 2,900 people participated.

November – Lindsay Kohn joined the MOCA staff as the new Public Education Program Manager, replacing Kristen Larson.

October 12 – The Seventh Annual “A Toast to Life” was held at Nicollet Island Pavilion to celebrate the lives of Merle and Jill Rosenberg. More than $20,000 was raised.

November – Oncology nurses Pam Burns and Nicole Nistler were awarded the 2008 Anita Lubov Memorial Scholarship for Oncology Nurses. They planned to use the scholarship money to attend the 26th Annual Symposium of Gynecologic Nurse Oncologists in 2009.

MOCA celebrates its 10th Anniversary. Members decided to combine the Annual Molly Cade Memorial Golf Tournament and the 10th Anniversary celebration- see July 19-20.

February – 12 Calling All Angels parties take place and raised more than $7,000 for MOCA research, awareness and programs. The most notable event is a display at the Women’s Health & Birth Center at Fairview UMC-M in Hibbing.

March 14 – The Third Annual Silent No More Marathon Swim was held in Rochester. For 12 straight hours, Mary Johnson, the gynecologic oncology chaplain at the Mayo Clinic, swam to raise money for ovarian cancer research and programs. Nearly $8,000 was raised.

May 7 – Four research grants for ovarian cancer research and programs were awarded, three to researchers at the University of Minnesota and one to a researcher at the Mayo Clinic, totaling $286,054. MOCA has awarded more than $2.3 million in research grants in 10 years.

July 19-20 – The Ninth Annual Molly Cade Memorial Golf Tournament & 10th Anniversary Gala was held at Brackett’s Crossing in Lakeville. Special guest emcee was Belinda Jensen of KARE11. Members, supporters and many others came together to celebrate MOCA’s 10 years of success. An event such as this allows MOCA to look forward to their future of learning, hope and action! 195 golfers and 370 gala attendees came together to raise $109,000 for ovarian cancer research and programs. Since 2001, the event has raised over $600,000 for MOCA.

August 15 – The family of Marie Ogdahl, who passed away in the spring of 2009 after an eight-year battle with ovarian cancer, hosted the First Annual Glenwood MOCA Open at Minnewaska Golf Course in Glenwood. Participants helped raise over $8,000 to benefit MOCA.

September 12 – HGTV personality Evan Farmer emceed the 10th Annual Silent No More Walk/Run and was held at Rosland Park in Edina. Nearly 3,000 people participated and over $230,000 was raised.

October 11 -- The Eighth Annual “A Toast to Life” was held at Nicollet Island Pavilion, in Minneapolis, to celebrate the lives of Merle and Jill Rosenberg. Just over $7,100 was raised.