WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance held a rally for a congressional caucus dedicated to curing ovarian cancer Tuesday with the help of several MTV “Real World” stars.
Years before he became a congressman, Sean Duffy (R-Wi) spent 1997 on the season of “Real World: Boston,” where he met his wife Rachel. He joked that they were the “first reality TV couple.”
But Duffy became serious quickly during his time at the podium.
Though the rally was “for everyone who has fought, lived and survived ovarian cancer,” much of the conversation focused on one MTV reality star in particular — Diem Brown.
Diem became famous after she appeared on several MTV reality shows and made her 10-year battle with ovarian cancer public.
She lost that battle last November.
(Photo: Getty Images)
“Diem brown had 10 year battle,” Duffey said. “She chose to be very public about her battle, and share it with hundreds of thousands of people. She lost that fight last year, and she has not just touched America, she’s touched our MTV family.”
“You have to know that Diem has the attention of the U.S. Congress.”
Though she went after two members of Congress, an oncologist, and a cancer survivor, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room when Megan Brown spoke.
Brown is a producer for Fox News, and Diem Brown’s sister.
“Cancer was a million miles away from my life, until it wasn’t,” Megan told a full room on Capitol Hill Tuesday. “I was one of the millions who thought it would never affect me.”
(Photo: Getty Images)
Megan said that though her and Diem were born 18 months apart, they were raised like twins.
She said she never felt like she was her sister’s caregiver, because she never felt like her sister was a patient. Megan recalled parts of the eulogy she gave at her sister’s funeral 10 months ago.
“Cancer did not beat you Diem, it lead you to eternity.”
Along with Duffy, MTV stars David “Puck” Rainey, Derrick Kosinski and Laurel Stucky attended the rally.
The caucus aims to help impact the future of ovarian cancer, and make sure funding goes towards beneficial research. You can read more about it here.