The Centers for Disease Control say ovarian cancer is the deadliest cancer of the female reproductive system. The Teal There's A Cure 5K brings awareness to the disease that organizers say doesn't get enough attention.

"I do feel like people start seeing the teal, they start questioning 'what is Teal There's a Cure?' " said Colleen Crawford, the 5K's co-director. "So we've had more people talking about it; I think it has helped. And we've had more events, and I think getting more events has helped increase the awareness."

Maureen O'Hara founded the race after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She wanted to help others even when fighting her own battle.

O'Hara passed away in 2012, and her family carries on her legacy.

"She was such a go-getter," Crawford said. "And she was one [who thought] if you need to work on something, you need to get it done, do it. Don't talk about it.

"Everyone that met her loved her. She was just a wonderful person to know."

O'Hara was a nurse at Upstate University Hospital, one of the beneficiaries of the race. In its first 10 years, the run raised $374,000 for ovarian cancer research and awareness.

One doctor has seen the benefits firsthand.

"To do research to find cure for cancer is hard," said Upstate Associate Professor Juntao Luo. "And actually to support that research is very, very important. And I know people run very, very hard to contribute to that."