September approaches, bringing with it the tradition of gathering for the Walk of Hope. Sharing stories, raising awareness, celebrating Maria. Thank you all for being part of Team Wookie for so many years. As she did from the beginning, Maria continues to bring us together.

There is certainly much to celebrate when it comes to the future of ovarian cancer treatment, much to be hopeful for – more people than ever are aware of ovarian cancer and its symptoms; immunotherapy and targeted drugs are more readily available (including PARP inhibitors and angiogenesis inhibitors); and research is underway to find screening tools and vaccine-style treatments. Still, we have a long way to go. The Walk of Hope is one concrete way to help push this cause forward, to provide the resources to gain much-needed ground on this disease. Thank you, Team Wookie, for being there. These successes are a direct and tangible result of your support. I can’t thank you enough.

As always, I welcome friends, family, colleagues, Brittany Spaniels and all other dogs, anyone who wishes to join Team Wookie to celebrate Maria’s luminous spirit. I know each and every one of us can feel her bonfire, warming us, guiding us, illuminating the path ahead.

Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul.