Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman are reserved, polished achievers.
Now the founders of Camilla & Marc are stepping out to issue an important message to the world.
'Ovaries. Talk about them.'
The campaign, launching today, is aimed at driving conversation and funding for ovarian cancer which takes the lives of around 300,000 women annually.
In a joint statement, the pair said they lost their mother to ovarian cancer 26 years ago when they were 11 and 13 respectively.
With minimal warning signs, no early detection test, limited funding and no cure, Freeman-Topper and Freeman said it is a devastating disease.
“Along with countless others, we sadly lost our mother to ovarian cancer 26 years ago due to a late diagnosis.
The pain of losing my mother so suddenly was devastating and one of the most difficult things I have ever had to encounter.
We want to start a powerful conversation now, so that our children and future generations can look forward to a future where deaths from ovarian cancer are a rarity rather than the norm.”
The pair have created two limited edition t-shirt collections, with proceeds being donated directly to Ovarian Cancer Research UNSW Sydney.
Money raised will support Associate Professor Caroline Ford and her team of researchers, to develop an early detection test for ovarian cancer.
“Developing an effective detection test for ovarian cancer will be a game changer for this disease, as you will be able to catch cancer early and cure through surgery,” Professor Ford said.
Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman are encouraging Australians to unite and speak transparently about a disease that is in desperate need of more funding and awareness.
“There is a social taboo that exists when it comes to the word ovaries and a general lack of awareness about this type of cancer," Freeman-Topper said.
"Our campaign aims to help women to talk more openly with their partners, sisters, friends, wives, brothers and mothers about their ovaries and about this disease. The more dialogue we can create, the more awareness we can raise, the more funding we can harness, the closer we come to a cure."
Professor Ford said the key to changing the statistics is research and awareness.
"Proceeds from this campaign will be directed towards my lab’s efforts to develop an early detection test for ovarian cancer. We already have made good progress, but this extra funding will give our research a significant boost."
Freeman said the numbers are alarming.
“The statistics for women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are not positive; 75% receive the news when they are already in stage three or four - that’s simply not good enough.
"The money we raise will go directly to the scientists; Investment in people leads to advances in medicine - this is how we will find a cure.” -
The first limited edition t-shirt is a collaboration with Perth based artist Rina Freiberg - honouring and celebrating the female form.
The words “Ovaries. Talk about them” are printed on the back of the t-shirt.
The second features the words Power and Solidarity, representing the movement.
In support of the cause, the t-shirts will be available in-store and online at Camilla and Marc boutiques nationwide from March 2.
They will be priced from $140 to $160.