In August 2010, Ashley Naranjo’s beloved Mother, Shelley Naranjo, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. For the next year and a half, Shelley spent many lengthy stays in the hospital. These included several intensive surgeries and chemotherapy sessions, among treating other health complications that resulted from the disease. In January 2012, Shelley sadly lost her battle with ovarian cancer, but she never – up until the very end, lost her positive spirit and bright outlook on life. In May 2011, Ashley ran her first National Ovarian Cancer Coalition 5K alongside some of her Mom’s surgeons and nurses. Ashley was in awe as she celebrated the joy and comfort caregivers bring to others. This experience was significant as she describes how inspiring it was to be surrounded by survivors, advocates, and anyone who this disease has touched. Every year since, family and friends make it an annual tradition to remember Ashley’s Mom and her legacy as a teal-shirted team of runners and walkers (and strollers too!), called “Shelley’s Seashells.” Ashley says with a big smile, “My Mom always loved a good excuse to bring people together! What greater cause than supporting awareness, education, and research so that others might experience a different outcome?”
