Diva and Conquer

Empower yourself -- take control of your health!

Visit the HERA website for more information about the organization and upcoming events

About Hera

In 2002, many believed ovarian cancer was a silent killer with no symptoms. Yet ovarian cancer survivor and rock climber Sean Patrick met too many women battling the disease who were like her: young, active, and a picture of good health. She decided to put the skills and acumen she developed in the mountains to work.

The goal: shatter ovarian cancer myths while creating solutions to the disease by empowering women with information, researchers with the resources to find new directions in early detection, treatment and prevention and communities with the means to provide support.

The result: The HERA Foundation, a registered non-profit that donates over 85% of funds to the cause through programs including:

HERA OSB1 Grant - Awarded to scientists at Johns Hopkins and MD Anderson such as Dr. Brant Wang, Dr. Christina Borgeest, Dr. Martina Bazzaro, Dr. Hiroyuki Yoshida, Dr. Santillan, and Dr. Kentaro Nakayama.

HERA Community Grants Program - Seed grants awarded to local ovarian cancer groups in states including Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Washington, Pennsylvania, California, Minnesota, New York, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

HERA Climb4Life

A series of rock climbing fundraising events held in various cities in the United States and Mexico, the climbs attract women, men and children of all ages, from beginner to professional athlete.  Climb4Life events have raised over a half-million dollars while touching thousands of lives and generating immeasurable amounts of awareness of ovarian cancer. 

• September 13 – 16, 2007 -- 6^th Annual HERA Climb4Life Salt Lake City, UT
• November 8 – 11, 2007 -- 3^rd Annual HERA Climb4Life Mexico
• February 2008 -- 3^rd Annual HERA Climb4Life Washington, D.C.
• June 2008 -- 2^nd Annual HERA Climb4Life Boulder, CO

Ovarian Cancer Facts

• It kills more women than all the gynecologic cancers combined
• It's the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States
• It occurs in 1 in 57 women, up from 1 in 70 several years ago
• The death toll is on the rise; in 2004 numbers increased by almost 20%

Why we need to move mountains & raise funds for research:

• There is no reliable early detection test for ovarian cancer
• When ovarian cancer is caught before it has spread outside the ovaries over 90% of women survive 5 years. Yet only 24% of ovarian cancer is caught early.
• Pap smears only screen for cervical cancer, yet 60% of American women believe the Pap also screens for ovarian cancer.
• When diagnosed after the disease has spread the chance of five-year survival drops to less than 25%. Yet 76% of women are diagnosed too late!