Riverhead and North Fork spirit soared this weekend as more than 60 Team Noelle participants showed their love for a local woman battling ovarian cancer by a participating in an event to “break the silence” and raise awareness.
Noelle Kouris, whose parents Nancy and Keith own the Blue Duck Bakery Cafes, was diagnosed in July with ovarian cancer.
Currently undergoing chemo, Noelle has faced the news with a positive spirit, every photo capturing her radiant smile, and with a strong focus on raising awareness.
To that end, the Kouris family formed Team Noelle, to walk in the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s 9th Annual 5K Run/Walk to “Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” Saturday at Belmont State Park in Babylon.
Team Noelle, comprised of more than 60 walkers and runners, came together to raise almost $11,000 toward ovarian cancer awareness, Noelle said.
“I was overwhelmed by all of the love and support I had, from family to friends, and my work family. I even had former students walking with me. I am also blessed to have the support of so many who couldn’t physically be at the walk, but were there in spirit. I am truly so blessed to have so much love around me,” Noelle said.
Nancy Kouris said Team Noelle was the top team at the walk, with its own tent. “It was a truly awesome event,” she said.
Noelle found the walk deeply inspirational. “I was able to meet survivors, which of course symbolizes hope and strength. The women I stood on stage with for the survivor picture were women I now look up to as a reminder to fight and to never give up,” Noelle said.
After the walk, Noelle, on her Facebook page, thanked her team in teal. “It’s because of all of you I am able to stay strong and positive. I am forever grateful for all of your love and support.”
“Family, her closest friends and so many more — even our Blue Duck customers always asking for her. I totally agree with Noelle. We are truly blessed. I was quite taken back by the turnout, both for Noelle and the event itself. So many women affected by this.”
Each year, more than 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
In a recent interview with SoutholdLOCAL, Nancy shared her thoughts on facing the news no mother should have to hear: “Suddenly our worst fears became real: Noelle, my second child, had cancer — ovarian cancer,” she said. “I think I repeated it to myself over and over because, how could this be, ovarian cancer at 34? This is something I should worry about, not her.”
Nancy said she couldn’t explain the rush of feelings. “I could only hold on to her and give her any and all of my strength and energy at that moment. I told her, ‘We’ll do this together.’”
The Kouris family owns the Blue Duck Bakery Cafes in Southampton, Riverhead, Southold and Greenport; the couple’s children, Christina, Noelle, Anthony and his fiance Carrie all work, and between other jobs and the bakery, are busy seven days a week and have all been helping while she stays steadfast by Noelle’s during treatment, Nancy said.
“I am my daughter’s sidekick, companion, sounding board and support. But most of all, I am her mom,” she said.
Noelle has been an elementary school teacher at the Longwood Central School District for 11 years and loves working with children. “I have wanted to be a teacher since I was five years old,” she said.
Living back at home with her parents in Aquebogue, Noelle said she is truly grateful for their help and support as she undergoes chemo at Stony Brook Hospital.
Describing her experience, Noelle said she woke up on the morning of July 8 with “what felt like a charlie horse in my lower stomach. “At first I ignored it, thinking it was gas or something. Even though in the back of my head, I knew something didn’t feel quite right. The next morning I woke up with the same feeling, but when I stood up, the feeling moved lower on my right side. I believed I may have had a hernia. No pain, though. I just felt very bloated.”
And now, Noelle is determined to spread the work, to help raise awareness about ovarian cancer for all women. The color teal is meant to shine the light: TEAL means “Tell Every Amazing Lady” about ovarian cancer.
Symptoms of ovarian cancer include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, and feeling the need to urinate urgently or often.
Noelle encourages women to be proactive; regular pap smears, she said, do not detect ovarian cancer. “If you have any of the symptoms mentioned or something else, go to the doctor. Do not wait. Don’t be afraid to take charge of your health. The sooner you know, the better.”
Early detection is critical, she added. “These symptoms often go ignored and for many women, they find it when it is at an advanced stage,” Noelle said. “I am lucky that mine responds well to chemo, but this is bigger than me. I want to help all women. I know I am young-ish, but I want to help spread the word to all women, no matter the age. We have to help each other.”
Her hope is that one day, awareness of ovarian cancer is as widespread as breast cancer. “The more people are aware and proactive, the more we can work on finding a cure and better early detection measures.”
For additional information on ovarian cancer risks and symptoms, visit www.ovarian.org. Donations to Team Noelle can be made by clicking here.
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