Local Woman Brings Cancer Awareness Effort to South Windsor

This article was reported and written by Kaitlin Glanzer.

Lara Eaton’s mother worked in the medical field when she began to struggle with the silent symptoms of ovarian cancer. She was treated for urinary tract infections and indigestion before she was finally diagnosed.


Before she died in November 2012, Eaton's mother, Dr. Leslie Eldon, said, “I should have known,” Eaton recalled.

But she didn’t and she’s not alone.

“Most cases of ovarian cancer are detected at stage 3 and 4,” Eaton said. “There isn’t a screening for it and the symptoms are vague. People have indigestion and they just assume ‘I should eat better.’”

That’s why Eaton has poured herself into an effort called Turn the Towns Teal, which is coming to South Windsor in September. The effort to publicize the symptoms of ovarian cancer is a local expression of the national campaign. Turn the Towns Teal was begun in 2007 by ovarian cancer patient Gail MacNeil not long before she died.

Eaton felt bringing Turn the Towns Teal to South Windsor was a fitting way to give other women what she wishes her mother had.

“I’m doing this in honor or my mom,” Eaton said. “My hope is that someone – even one person – will recognize the symptoms and their life will be saved. That’s my goal in bringing the campaign to South Windsor.”

In addition to posting ribbons and signs throughout town, Turn the Towns Teal South Windsor will host an event at the Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk in the Village Green near Pinkberry on Sept. 1 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Guest speakers will include Miss USA Erin Brady, Jane MacNeil, president of Turn the Towns Teal, Amy Bahre, survivor and organizer of Turn the Towns Teal in Bolton, CT. South Windsor Mayor Tom Delnicki will give a proclamation.

Symptom cards and information will be available at the event and there will be a meet and greet with Miss USA.

The campaign came together with tons of support from the South Windsor Junior Women’s Club, business sponsors and the town of South Windsor, Eaton said.

She initially approached Town Manager Matthew Galligan for permission to bring Turn the Towns Teal to South Windsor and was surprised by his enthusiasm. It was Galligan, Eaton said, who suggested inviting Erin Brady to the event.

“It kind of snowballed. Evergreen Walk said they would be the venue, we had a banner made and some really great sponsors made the event happen,” Eaton said. “Everyone’s been fabulous about wanting to do something and draw attention to a very needed campaign.”

For more information, visit the Turn the Towns Teal South Windsor Facebook page or turnthetownsteal.org.