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Let’s say this straight up. When you purchase a piece from the CAMILLA AND MARC Ovaries. Talk About Them. collection, all proceeds go directly to research. No red tape, no agencies, no excess, just every single dollar going to the science that counts – to the UNSW Ovarian Cancer Research Group under the leadership of Associate Professor Caroline Ford. Since its launch this campaign has raised over $500K with monies going towards the employment of two key female research scientists.
By now you may have seen a variety of well known faces talking about the campaign via social media, all showing their support for the cause while dressed in pieces from the capsule. The charity collection ranges chic tees, sweaters and accessories each with the call-to-arms slogan: Ovaries. Talk About Them.
When Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman lost their mother to ovarian cancer they were just 11 and 13 years old respectively. It irrevocably changed their world. So, this campaign has become not only a mission to help end ovarian cancer but a remarkable way to honour their mother.
Still today there is no test for ovarian cancer, despite it being the single deadliest female cancer. Symptoms often go unnoticed due to their similarities to other more benign female causes. This year, CAMILLA AND MARC hopes to raise AU$1million, an amount that would be spectacularly beneficial in helping change the poor detection methods that currently exist.
GRAZIA spoke to Freeman-Topper about Camilla and Marc’s most inspiring legacy, and the impressive momentum it’s gathering.
Congratulations on this year’s launch of your Ovaries. Talk About Them. campaign. Have you noticed encouraging increased conversation around the fight against Ovarian cancer since last year?
Thank you so much. We are so honoured that such incredible people from all around the world join our conversation to help raise much needed awareness and funding. What is so special about our campaigns is that we offer a safe community and platform to real families, survivors, loved ones to share their stories to help empower them, to create true connections. There is definitely an amazing conversation happening that keeps increasing each year. The important thing to note is every conversation counts, whether it’s with family, at a dinner party or on social media. Part of this campaign is about encouraging women and men to share their stories, there is so much power in that. And if this level of sharing can happen on a global level, I truly believe we can get to a tipping point where awareness of this disease will enter the mainstream.
The fact your fundraising has now garnered the employment of research scientists and nurses, do you feel confident the next five years will see greater improvements in treatment and detection?
The hope is that with our continued support, Associate Professor Caroline Ford can have an early detection test in clinical trials within 4 years, which if successful would be a simple blood test made available to women globally at their regular GP visit each year.
Can you tell us a little about the collection and ambassadors this year?
Our Ovaries. Talk About Them unisex capsule collection comes in a deep navy & cream and this year the collection includes a sweater, a hoodie, two t-shirts, a children’s t-shirt, a cap and canvas toe. This year we felt it was very important to include a children’s piece in there to ensure the messaging is universal and touches every generation. We are so honoured to have amazing families, survivors and friends of the brand support us this year such as Jess Gomes, Maddison Brown, Nicole Warne, Victoria Lee, Madeleine Madden, Gabriella Brooks, Jaimie Alexander, Georgia Fowler, Sabrina Dhowre-Elba, Paulina Porizcova to name a few!
What do you think your mother would say about all you have achieved in your career, particularly in creating this campaign?
I hope she would be proud that we are advocating for something that she sadly wasn’t given opportunity to do. She always looked out for those who needed support, those that who needed a louder voice to advocate for them. She was always championing others, and I hope that through the work that we are doing, raising awareness, funding and a safe community to start these much-needed conversations, that we are honouring her in the best way we can.
Is she the forever CAMILLA AND MARC muse?
When Marc and I first discussed the thought of starting a brand together – we knew in that moment that we wanted to create an entire world for women, to feel confident, fearless and powerful – to make our mother proud. She is definitely our forever muse.
Purchase the collection here
