Marissa assists with the production of the Annual Litchfield T.E.A.L.® Walk™.
Marissa’s Story
I first became involved with the organization Tell Every Amazing Lady® when my mom was first diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in 2014. Because of my mom, Lisa Cosgrove, the first Litchfield T.E.A.L.® Walk™ began in September 2014. This was when I realized that T.E.A.L.® would hold a very special place in my heart, and I wanted to be a part of helping the organization raise awareness to hopefully one day find a cure, if not educate more people on preventive measures of detecting ovarian cancer.
In July of 2019 my mom received the news that there were no other treatments she could try, so she helped me learn all there is to know about running the Litchfield T.E.A.L.® Walk™. My mom attended her last T.E.A.L.® Walk™ in September of 2019 and unfortunately passed at the end of the month. This was now my turn to start organizing everything for the Litchfield T.E.A.L.® Walk™ each year, which we have done with a lot of help, especially from the Cosgrove Family and Hope Assembly #46, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls.
We ran into a few roadblocks in 2020 and 2021 with the pandemic, however we kept on going with faith and hope while doing virtual walks, both years, to still bring awareness to this disease. In 2022 we had our first back in-person walk and in 2023 we had our 10th Annual Litchfield T.E.A.L.® Walk™.
In 2020 I married my husband, and moved down to Florida where he was stationed. I was able to come home for the virtual walk in September 2020, to walk with my family. In 2021 I was able to complete the virtual walk in Florida with Marvelous Assembly #101, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, where I was serving as Mother Advisor. In March 2022 my husband and I moved back to Connecticut where we would welcome our baby girl, later in the year. Along with becoming a stay-at-home mom in September 2022 and being in school full-time for my graduate degree in social work, I have been able to fuel my passion of helping people by helping volunteer with Tell Every Amazing Lady® to bring awareness to Litchfield, CT and other neighboring towns and states.
I would highly recommend that anyone who wants to volunteer with such a great organization as T.E.A.L.®, to do it! This organization is truly wonderful with all the support that they have given me and my family, throughout the years, as well as the continued support we receive.
