We use non-essential cookies (including anonymous analytics) to help us understand if our website is working well and to learn what content is most useful to visitors. We also use some cookies which are essential for our platform to work and help us to provide you with the best experience possible. You can accept or reject our non-essential cookies and change your mind at any time. To learn more, please read our cookies policy.

Update cookie preferences

Highlights from our rose garden!

07 May 2020

Last Friday, we launched our white roses campaign for World Ovarian Cancer Day to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms. 

This May, we’re asking everybody to craft a rose, add it to our virtual rose garden with a personal message, and then share their creation with the symptoms of ovarian cancer on social media using #OCARoseGarden. 

Over the past week, people across the country -  friends, families, and women affected by ovarian cancer  - have brought the rose garden to life, and we’ve seen a beautiful array of roses blossom. Click here to take a look! 8th May is World Ovarian Cancer Day. We take a look through some of the roses our supporters added to the garden and their messages of hope ahead of the day.


  • Kim Gray

    “World Ovarian Cancer Day is a chance to get creative, raise awareness and save lives. It’s particularly important despite the COVID pandemic that women do not ignore symptoms that could lead to an early diagnosis and contact their GP with concerns. I’ve loved volunteering with OCA handing out white roses for the past two years and although this year’s campaign has to be different, filing social media with our hand-made roses is a great way to spread the message. I feel very lucky to be fit and well coming up to four years since my stage 4 diagnosis in June 2016. This WOCD, I’ll be remembering those whose lives have been taken early and those undergoing treatment for recurrence.”

  • Dr Sarah Spear

    “We know the earlier ovarian cancer is detected the better, and that’s why it's so important that all women are aware of the symptoms. Whilst our research at the OCA Research Centre aims to improve treatment options for women with ovarian cancer, it still all starts with women knowing what to look for and when to go to the GP. I made this white rose to support Ovarian Cancer Action and help raise awareness. It’s a beautiful idea to spread the word and I hope we reach many women over the month with these lovely roses.”


  • Florence Wilks

    “I supported WOCD last year by handing out hundreds of white roses at Kings Cross Station. White roses signify hope. Hope for more women to know the symptoms and have a better outcome. We can’t hand out real roses this year, but we can create them. Mine is a collage simply using tissue paper. It has a rainbow border, thanking all the NHS and Key Workers for their incredible care, and a white rose in the middle signifying HOPE. Hope that we can make a difference by raising awareness and also funding the research that will transform long and how well women live.”


  • Jess Brown

    "Last year whilst having treatment for ovarian cancer, I raised £3,600 for Ovarian Cancer Action and raised lots of awareness. We have not yet been able to have our walk this year or do the fundraising we had hoped for, so this feels like the perfect way to spread awareness from home!"

Every rose and every donation helps to spread awareness of ovarian cancer and fund life-saving research. Help us to transform the lives and prospects of women today and for generations to come.

Related articles