According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 22,430 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007. During that same time period, more than 15,200 died from the same disease.

Ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women and yet it remains largely unknown and chronically under-discussed by the American public.

In the North County, a group of five young women are dedicating themselves to lowering those staggering numbers by raising awareness, as well as gathering monetary donations for ovarian cancer research.

Caroline Barth, Ravae Rohrer, Jennifer Chavez, Megan Conaster and Megan Bentz are a group of five best friends who will be competing in the 2008 Wildflower Mountain Bike Triathlon on Saturday, May 3 as Team Ovacome, in honor of Barth’s mother, Mary, who has been battling the disease since 2005.