They say that heroes come and go, but legends are forever.
Susan Evans, a champion in the fight against ovarian cancer, has had her name immortalized with Sept. 12 being officially declared ‘Susan Evans Day’ in Pittsburgh by Mayor William Peduto.
Evans, a resident of Bradford, has been the driving force behind making September officially recognized as ‘Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month’ in Pennsylvania, which was passed in bipartisan resolutions by the Pennsylvania Senate and House.
The resolutions were sponsored by Sen. Joseph Scarnati, R-Brockway, and Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint.
Earlier in the year, Causer mentioned that he had no trouble sponsoring the resolution.
“She inspired me to put in the extra effort to make it happen,” Causer had said of Evans.
In regards to the proclamation in Pittsburgh, Evans said she was not prepared to receive such an honor.
“I only expected the proclamation of the awareness month,” she said. “That was until I heard ‘Susan Evans Day’ and I just couldn’t believe it.”
In his proclamation, Peduto credited Evans’ passion and endless drive to “help women battling gynecological cancers and to provide funding for research and the education of doctors, both urban and rural, in the early detection and treatment of ovarian cancer.”
Representatives of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition were in attendance in support of Evans, as she has worked with the coalition in various ways to bring awareness to ovarian cancer.
The road for Evans has taken her mission far, but it doesn’t stop with the proclamation as her endeavors have made it all the way to the state capitol in Harrisburg.
“We have been informed that the capitol building will be recognizing Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month,” Evans said. “From Sept. 25 through Sept. 30, the capitol will be illuminated with lights that will be colored teal, the color that represents ovarian cancer awareness.”
While Evans has mentioned that she is “tremendously honored,” she also stated she could not have been able to make it as far as she has on her own.
“Nothing like this can be done by just one person,” Evans said. “It has been a team effort all along the way.”
