WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- One in 20 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer, leading to more than 50,000 deaths every year. The Colon Cancer Alliance refuses to accept these staggering statistics for a disease that can be largely prevented through recommended screening.
That's why the organization is urging individuals, businesses and community groups across the country to participate in the nationwide Dress in Blue Day movement on Friday, March 7. By wearing blue and urging others to do the same, you can help make a splash this March by putting colon cancer on the map across the country. The event takes place in conjunction with National Colon Cancer Awareness Month in March.
"By simply wearing blue on March 7th, you could help save the life of someone you love," says Eric Hargis, Colon Cancer Alliance CEO. "This simple act encourages people to talk to friends, family and coworkers about colon cancer and the importance of being screened. One conversation at a time, we're knocking colon cancer out of the top three cancer killers. That's what Dress in Blue Day and March are all about."
National Dress in Blue Day is held on the first Friday in March in communities and offices throughout the nation. The Colon Cancer Alliance first launched the Dress in Blue Day program in 2009 to bring nationwide attention to colon cancer and to celebrate the courage of those affected by this disease. Today, thousands of people across the country show their support by wearing blue and hosting other unique events.
You can get involved in Dress in Blue Day by starting a fundraiser, hosting an awareness event at your workplace or school, submitting photos to the Get Blued! Photo Contest, decking yourself out in blue merchandise, distributing flyers and pin-up kits at local businesses, spreading the word on social media and so much more.
By "getting blued" and increasing national education about colon cancer, lives will be saved. Stand with the Colon Cancer Alliance and help knock colon cancer out of the top three cancer killers. Learn more and find other ideas at www.dressinblueday.org.
The Colon Cancer Alliance's mission is to knock colon cancer out of the top three cancer killers. This mission is being accomplished by championing prevention, funding cutting-edge research and providing the highest quality patient support services. Learn more at www.ccalliance.org.
Dress in Blue Day began with Anita Mitchell. Ms. Mitchell was battling stage IV colon cancer and had lost a close friend and father to the disease. She saw a need to bring greater awareness to a cancer not many people wanted to discuss. Ms. Mitchell is a founder of Colon Cancer STARS and a volunteer for the Colon Cancer Alliance. She brought the Dress in Blue concept to the Colon Cancer Alliance in 2009. The Colon Cancer Alliance expanded this concept into Dress in Blue Day, a national celebratory day to raise awareness of colon cancer, specifically highlighting the spirit and courage of survivors and their families, and honoring the memory of those lost to the disease.
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