MINNEAPOLIS,, Feb. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- March is a busy month for those who are passionate about raising awareness and increasing screening for the nation's no. 2 cancer killer: colorectal cancer. The Colon Cancer Coalition is getting a jump on this busy time of year with two signature Get Your Rear in Gear® events on Sat., Feb. 27.
The 2016 Get Your Rear in Gear event season kicks off with run/walks in Atlanta and Austin, Texas, leading into a jam-packed season with 46 colon cancer awareness events in 27 states in 2016. The Get Your Rear in Gear run/walk series is the nation's largest event series raising money for colon cancer awareness. Host cities in February and March include:
- Atlanta, Sat., Feb. 27
- Austin, Texas, Sat., Feb. 27
- Charlotte, N.C., Sat., March 5
- Raleigh, N.C., Sat., March 5
- Fort Worth, Texas, Sat., March 5
- Savannah, Ga., Sat., March 5 (licensed event)
- Hot Springs, Ark., Sat., March 12
- Hickory, N.C., Sat., March 19 (returning host city)
- Hampton Roads, Va., Sat., March 26 (new host city)
Joining Get Your Rear in Gear in 2016 is the second season of the Tour de Tush™ colon cancer awareness bike ride. A complete list of host cities for both event series can be found at ColonCancerCoalition.org/register.
MARCH AWARENESS ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
The Colon Cancer Coalition has other several activities planned in this busy month to take advantage of the added attention paid to the disease during these 31 days.
FACES OF BLUE tells a new colon cancer survivor or caregiver story each day throughout the month. Stories that put a face to this disease and introducing the many people in all walks of life that the nation's third most diagnosed cancer can affect. Visit the Colon Cancer Coalition / Get Your Rear in Gear on Facebook throughout during March to read each new story, or search #facesofblue on Twitter and Instagram.
BUILDING BLUE BRIDGES. Tuesday, March 8 brings together the colon cancer community in the Twin Cities-area with the lighting of the famed 35W Bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis. Other landmarks in Minnesota, including the Enger Tower in Duluth and the Lowry Ave. bridge (also in Minneapolis), will be lit blue on the same evening.
*DON'T MISS IT because of colon cancer. The Colon Cancer Coalition's award winning colon cancer screening campaign will be seen or heard in seven different states throughout the month of March. This campaign encourages people of all ages to be proactive about colon cancer screening, knowing their family history, and understanding signs and symptoms of this preventable disease. More information about this campaign can be found at WhyGetScreened.org.
In addition to the volunteer-driven Get Your Rear in Gear events, many of the Coalition's volunteers across the country are also planning additional colon cancer awareness activities in their local communities.
SIX REASONS COLON CANCER SCREENING IS IMPORTANT
- Screening for colorectal cancer is recommended to begin at age 50 -- earlier for African Americans and other ethnic groups, as well as for individuals with a family history.
- Screening through a colonoscopy can detect and remove polyps before they become cancer, preventing the disease from occurring.
- There is a 90% 5-year survival rate when colorectal cancer is caught in early (localized) stages, but only 10% when it is diagnosed in late stages.
- Only 40% of patients nationwide are diagnosed with early stage disease.
- One in 7 patients colon cancer patients are diagnosed before the recommended screening age of 50.
- When diagnosed before 50, the disease is most often diagnosed in later stages.
ABOUT THE COLON CANCER COALITION
The Colon Cancer Coalition is a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, dedicated to encouraging screening and raising awareness for colon cancer. The organization's signature Get Your Rear in Gear® and Tour de Tush™ events are volunteer-driven in communities throughout the United States. Since 2004, millions of dollars have been granted by the Colon Cancer Coalition to local programs that promote early prevention, screening, and patient support services for this disease. By making the words colon, colorectal and colonoscopy a part of the everyday language, we believe we can overcome the fear and decrease deaths from this largely preventable cancer. For more information visit ColonCancerCoalition.org.
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