Campus Community Heals, Raises Awareness Through Ovarian Cancer Event

By Shenandoah Briere
Oswego County Today intern
OSWEGO – A smile lingered on Mary Gosek’s face. Her feet began to pick up speed and soon she was off jogging, finishing the last of the race, joy spreading across her face.

She danced with the band last year at the Hope for Heather walk.

She was full of life and to continue to spread awareness, that was Mary’s dream, Sarah Gosek said, recalling the memory of her late mom.

“Just that energy she could bring to everything and just the beauty she brought with it was fricking incredible with going through chemo,” Sarah said.

Sarah returned to the ever-growing crowd of faculty, students, friends and family, all sporting various teal outfits for this years Totally TEAL Tuesday on the campus of SUNY Oswego.

A pin clipped over the heart of a dear friend here, another wearing a Team Mary quarter sleeve with the number 17 surrounded by angel wings on the back.

Ed Gosek, Mary’s husband, arrived shortly before the 9 a.m. photo, walking over to each person a smile forming as warm hugs were exchanged, the smell of coffee lingering the chilly air.

Ed sweetly greeted friends who were lining a table with teal cookies, earrings, pins and wristbands among other various items to sell.

Wearing a teal ribbon on his hoodie, he talked with everyone, drifting from person to person, thanking them as he went along.

“There are a lot more events to go, but they’re all nice. I’m not sure it’s getting easier. They’re getting harder, but it’s a great tribute to her,” he said.

Ed was pleased to see members of the hockey team racing to get into the group photo and hold the banner, kneeling as they did.

Standing elbow to elbow, the sea of teal-attired people smiled brightly and yelled ‘totally teal’ for the first several photos and then another chant as a tribute to Mary.

After the photo, participants of the event headed toward Glimmerglass Lagoon to take part in the walk that followed. Throughout the day various groups of athletes arrived at Culkin Hall stretching in the hallway and outside as they too prepared to walk and run the lagoon in support of both Mary and Ed.

“You always hear breast cancer and some of the others, but I think ovarian cancer, through people like Mary and Hope for Heather in Syracuse, there’s more and more word being spread about the terrible disease,” said Ed.

Even with various treatments this was the first Totally TEAL day since Mary began it five years ago where she was not present.

Her friend and former colleague, Tammy Reitz, stepped in this year to co-chair with another friend and former coworker, Diana Forbes.

Reitz eyes glistened with tears as she said how much being a part of the event meant to her.

“It means the world to me,” Reitz said. “Mary was a dear friend. I’m very proud to spread ovarian cancer awareness in her name.”

Reitz whisked the tears from her eyes, walked back to the table and continued helping with purchases and handing out small cards listing the various symptoms of ovarian cancer.

The list includes such symptoms as bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly and feeling the need to use the bathroom often or urgently.

The cards were provided by fellow ovarian cancer awareness campaign Hope for Heather. Some of the people nearby who also participate in Hope for Heather attended the event providing others with information.

One participant, Angela Galvin, later said in an email, “as the group assembled for the photo a beautiful monarch butterfly swooped and swirled by, traversing the width of the Culkin Hall steps right in front of the entire group gathered there. I honestly believe Mary was among us this morning.”

The email invoked a saddened cry from Reitz, who shared the message with fellow coworkers and said she truly believed Mary was there in spirit.

A box of teal ribbons was nestled on a covered table, also teal, surrounded by informational packets on ovarian cancer.

As the sun moved across the sky and morning shifted to afternoon students passing through Culkin Hall, stopped, read the brief cards and reached in for a ribbon following suite of those before and carefully pinning it in support of the cause.

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