Frocktober - A Frock challenge fundraiser for OCRF

Frocktober is a community fundraising initiative for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF). The aim of the campaign is to start important conversations. It raising awareness of the lack of early detection method, of women’s experiences, and of how we as a community can do more to support ovarian cancer research. You can make your donation here.

The challenge of Frocktober is to take on a frock, or dress, challenge in October. We first became involved with Frocktober in 2013. Our challenge was to wear a different frock everyday in October. We took a photo each day to share on our social media pages. With a love of frocks this was an exciting challenge to help fund research into early detection test.

Things to know about Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer
There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer. Over 50% of the community incorrectly believes a Pap smear will diagnose ovarian cancer.
Each year, nearly a quarter of a million women around the world are diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
In Australia alone, one woman dies every eight hours from ovarian cancer.
Less than 30% of women diagnosed at a late stage will survive for more than five years.
If a woman is diagnosed at Stage 1 (while the cancer is localised) then her survival rates are over 90%.
The OCRF receives no government funding and relies solely on the financial support of corporate Australia and the broader community.
Proportionally, more women die from ovarian cancer than breast cancer, because it is usually diagnosed in its advanced stages.
Symptoms are often vague and the warning signs associated with the disease —discomfort or pain in the abdomen or pelvis; feeling swollen or bloated; appetite loss or feeling full quickly; tiredness, and unexplained changes in weight—rarely set off alarm bells. As a result, women or their doctors sometimes mistakenly attribute the symptoms to other gastrointestinal problems or common female complaints, and delay taking further steps.
About 15–20% of women with ovarian cancer are found to have a fault in one of the BRCA genes or other
similar genes.

Two Sewing Sisters and Frocktober

This will be the first time in 5 years that we are not donning a frock everyday of October. Between us we have completed the equivalent of 7 Frocktobers without repeating a frock. It’s a lot of frocks for an important cause.

The frocks were a combination of ones we had made, purchased new, purchased second hand/vintage, family collection and borrowed from friends. Check out the frocks we have worn over the years.

There is still a chance to become involved in Frocktober this year. If not this year think about taking part next year. Wear a frock, host an event in your work place for a Frock Friday or start the important conversation to raise funds and awareness in your network about this insidious disease.

With a revised look for Frocktober last year Illustrator Alexandra Nea created the frocktober figures to provide the new stunning faces of Frocktober. This wonderful fashion illustrator works capturing luxury events across the country and you will find a stunning sketch of the Two Sewing Sisters was created by Alexandra.