1. Watching the reaction of shoppers as they tried to figure out what this huge, inflatable, red thing was.
2. Giving a tour of our colon exhibit to teens who were really interested in knowing more about colon cancer.
3. Meeting generations of families who have been touched by colon cancer.
   

   Father brings his three sons to the Prevent Cancer Super Colon to learn about colon health!

The day was full of many curious looks and interesting comments and questions as both adults and children approached the Prevent Cancer Super Colon situated in the center court of the mall. Several onlookers asked if our exhibit was a brain and the kids wondered if it was a moon bounce. I was particularly moved by how intrigued the teen visitors were and impressed with the thoughtful questions they had about colon cancer.

As with every stop the Prevent Cancer Super Colon makes, there were many survivors and families of loved ones lost to cancer who visited throughout the day. One of the survivors was a mother named Corrina who was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer at the young age of 38. When it comes to advocating for the importance of knowing your family history of cancer, Corrina not only talks the talk, but she also walks the walk, as she brought her daughters to visit the educational exhibit so that they too could understand the importance of cancer screening and colon health. Corrina also knows that her daughters will need to begin screening at a younger age since she herself was diagnosed before the age of 50. Colorectal cancer screening typically begins at age 50 for those at average risk of colorectal cancer, but people with a family history of colon cancer or polyps should talk with their doctor about getting screened at an earlier age.

Doctors & nurses from Hamilton Health answer questions about colon cancer

Volunteers from Dalton’s Hamilton Health, including nurses and doctors, were on-sight to answer questions regarding colorectal cancer symptoms and refer visitors to medical centers that provide colorectal cancer screenings. These enthusiastic volunteers were a great resource for the local families visiting the exhibit.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation would like to thank Hamilton Health Care for inviting us to their community and helping us share the life-saving message of colorectal cancer awareness and screening!

Check out this video of Corrina, a Colon Cancer Survivor, who visited the Prevent Cancer Super Colon with her daughters to teach them the importance of knowing your family history.

Elvis stops by the Prevent Cancer Super Colon in Times Square to remind his fans to get their colon cancer screenings!

The Prevent Cancer Super Colon was invited to be a part of Fight Colorectal Cancer’s (FCC) One Million Strong, an event spotlighting colorectal cancer awareness and prevention and encouraging everyone to celebrate the more than one million survivors of the disease in the U.S. The event included lots of fun, health-related activities that attracted many on-lookers to come find out what colorectal cancer and screening was all about. From sun up to sun down, the day was filled with dance parties, free yoga sessions, an acrobatic yoga demonstration, colon health educational materials, celebrity appearances, a “strong-man” competition and the sharing of many heartfelt survivor stories. The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s President and Founder Carolyn (“Bo”) Aldigé spoke in the opening ceremony about the importance of detecting polyps and colon cancer early and reminded the audience that the disease is preventable, treatable and beatable. Our Prevent Cancer Super Colon became one of the day’s most sought out attractions, showing the hundreds of participants and volunteers the importance of colorectal cancer screening.

This party for colon cancer prevention attracted people of all ages and walks of life to the Prevent Cancer Super Colon. We were able to give a tour of our three-dimensional super colon, show visitors what colon cancer and related disorders look like and provide them with fun, educational materials, such as Elvis magnets and Buddy Bracelets that each included vital screening information. I was amazed by how many people wanted to take our Buddy Bracelets to share with their family, friends and co-workers, in order to share the message about colorectal cancer screening guidelines (what a thoughtful way to show someone you care!). But many took them for themselves, commenting that the bracelet would serve as a helpful reminder to make an appointment for colon cancer screening soon.

This was my first Prevent Cancer Super Colon stop and even though I had studied my colorectal cancer and colon health facts, I ended up learning just as much, and maybe more, from our visitors, as they learned from me. Our morning visitors included a family from France that has an aunt with colorectal cancer, who also travels with a colon cancer educational exhibit similar to ours! It was interesting to learn the awareness activities for colon cancer happening in France. Their story reminded me that cancer has no boundaries and it’s a world-wide burden for so many individuals and families. People from all over the world shared their stories about the colon cancer screening process, having a family risk of colorectal cancer and how losing a loved one to cancer motivated them to get their colorectal screenings.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation featured on the NASDAQ Jumbotron!

As the sun started to set and the neon lights grew brighter, we could feel the enthusiasm building for the One Million Strong finale! The final events of the day included a pumped up dance party, recognition of colorectal cancer survivors on stage and an appearance by Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, the current Middleweight Champion of the World, who did not leave without getting his Buddy Bracelet and a tour of the Prevent Cancer Super Colon! Quillin took pictures with survivors in front of the Prevent Cancer Super Colon and shared a message of “Let’s knock out colorectal cancer.”

Just as this remarkable day was coming to an end, the Prevent Cancer Foundation was featured on the NASDAQ board communicating our vision to all those watching in Times Square: Stop Cancer Before it Starts! 

The Prevent Cancer Foundation is very thankful to our friends at FCC and Bayer, the event sponsor, for inviting us to be a part of this truly inspiring day full of exciting moments and eager supporters all promoting better prevention, diagnosis, patient care and treatment of colorectal cancer.

The reaction of the visitors to the colon is always different. Many of the younger visitors scrunch their nose and say “yuck.” Other young visitors think it is a moon bounce and run through it repeatedly. But I am always most touched by the adults who stop, pick up information about colon cancer prevention and screening, and take time to share their personal stories. I’ve heard from so many men and women whose lives have been saved because polyps were removed before they became cancer or because they were found in the early stages of cancer, enabling successful treatment. They talk about their own experiences with colonoscopy. “It was not nearly as bad as I thought” is a common phrase used, and visitors talk about how they encourage – sometimes insist – that  their family and friends get screened.

Kerry McAullife (NCCS), Lisa Hughes (Prevent Cancer Foundation), Brendan Bietry (PAF), Maria Smith (PAF), actor Patrick Dempsey, Jamilla Williams (PAF) and Stuart Arbuckle (Amgen)

We also spoke with thousands of visitors at our Breakaway from Cancer booth, and along with our partners, distributed hundreds of brochures on cancer prevention, information on how to become an advocate, and the resources available through the Breakaway from Cancer campaign partner organizations.

It was a beautiful weekend to promote health, wellness, philanthropy and disease education in a welcoming and friendly environment. Congratulations to the Lewiston/Auburn community and our friends at the Patrick Dempsey Center for Hope and Healing on another successful Dempsey Challenge!

These stops were a continuation of the five-stop tour organized by Noel Pingatore of the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan. I must say that it was a joy to see such a beautiful state and work with such wonderful people. Overall, I must agree with the catch phrase “Say YES to Michigan!”

A personal highlight from my trip may come as a shock to many of you. I did a lot of driving around the state and ended up having to do something that is not typical for a New Jersey native – I had to pump my own gas! New Jersey is one of two states where it is illegal to pump it yourself. When you do it all your life you probably don’t think twice about it, but for me it was an adventure. I tried to take a video of it until I started getting weird looks from the people around me.

My first event was in Mt. Pleasant, about an hour north of Lansing. It was a privilege to be part of the 27^th Annual Saginaw Chippewa Pow Wow on August 6! The event was initially set up outside in a giant circle of tents, but due to the rain, it was moved inside the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort. Throughout the afternoon we were able to not only reach tribal members but also the general public visiting the casino. Thanks to Tracy Pigeon and some very enthusiastic volunteers, we had a productive day with over 600 people walking through our exhibit.

The second event was in the town of Dorr, a short half hour drive south of Grand Rapids. The Gun Lake Tribe’s (Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians) Health and Human Services Department celebrated their new Wellness Center offices with a great open house. The combined attraction of the Prevent Cancer Super Colon, the variety of services available at the wellness center, the great reception and the raffle prizes drew out much of the community on August 8. Even Tribal Chairman D.K. Sprague walked through the exhibit, which was filmed for the tribal archives. The entire event, organized by Phyllis Davis, was a success!

Our tour of Michigan ended in Lansing at the Ingham Regional Medical Center on August 10. We set up in the parking lot near the patient entrance and saw a variety of people. Angela McFall coordinated the event and recruited volunteers to help attract people, hand out materials and answer questions. Not only did patients stop by, but doctors and nurses came outside to spend their break times in the Prevent Cancer Super Colon! Healthcare professionals in many different departments enjoyed learning about colorectal cancer.

The Prevent Cancer Super Colon^TM is definitely a sight to see! At 8 feet tall and 20 feet long, it is – literally – a giant colon that people walk through. As part of the Prevent Cancer Foundation staff, I knew that we used this exhibit to promote colorectal cancer awareness and screening guidelines but it was only a few months ago that I started traveling with it. Until that time, I never would have thought I would be having conversations with people on topics ranging from daily fiber intake to colonoscopies!

I recently had the privilege of working with Noel Pingatore of the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan to bring the Prevent Cancer Super Colon to five different cities in Michigan. Below are some of the highlights from the first two stops.

I flew into Sawyer International Airport way up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (“the U.P.”). With only two gates and one baggage claim area, the airport was different from other airports I have used. A “DC girl” out of my element, I was proud of myself for making the trek all the way to Baraga, MI – a one and a half hour drive, in the dark, with no GPS, no cell phone service and only a map of Michigan!

On July 22 we set up the Prevent Cancer Super Colon in Baraga (pronounced “bear-ga”), a beautiful little town on Lake Superior that is part of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Kathy Mayo put together a fantastic Cancer Prevention Carnival that highlighted the Prevent Cancer Super Colon and also featured snacks, a clown and educational booths about lung, oral and breast cancer. Children of all ages came through, some who learned the word “colon” for the first time and some who were happy to take information home to keep their parents healthy.

About five hours in the other direction of “the U.P.” is a town called Sault Ste Marie that borders Canada. Sault Ste Marie (pronounced “soo saint marie”) is home to the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. On July 26 Amanda Leonard organized a tent outside of the Sault Tribe Health Center that included the Prevent Cancer Super Colon and educational booths about breast cancer, sexual health and the dangers of tobacco use. Many people who worked for or had appointments at the Health Center stopped by to learn more about cancer prevention.

The number of people who shared personal stories with me was truly touching. I met cancer survivors, widows and people with loved ones currently battling colon cancer. I heard from a young woman who is concerned about her fiancé because his family history calls for him to start getting screened at age 25. I spoke with a man who has diverticulitis that causes him to take extra care of his colon. There was a woman who just turned 50 the week before and received colonoscopy information in the mail – she had ignored it and was very glad to see our exhibit that made her realize that she should go.

I had a great time at both events and am also excited about three more events next week on Michigan’s Lower Peninsula! Be sure to check back in a few weeks to read all about my adventures in Mt. Pleasant, Dorr and Lansing!

Visit our Web site for more information about bringing the Prevent Cancer Super Colon to your community!

With such a remarkable backdrop and with hundreds of children cooling off in the Fountain of Rings, the Prevent Cancer Super Colon stop, made possible through the support of Amgen, soon became one of the day’s most sought out attractions. The Foundation welcomed more than 800 individuals through the Prevent Cancer Super Colon.  Many adults expressed great interest in knowing more about colorectal cancer prevention and many others shared their own experiences with colitis and polyps or stories of colon cancer battles. Overall, the hundreds of people who stopped by were quite diverse in age, race, and ethnic background. A host of children, coming directly from the Fountain of Rings, made it through the Super Colon in their wet swimsuits and for the first time in the history of the exhibit, a group of runners literally jogged through the Prevent Cancer Super Colon.

The Foundation partnered with Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Cancer Coalition, Northside Hospital, and American Cancer Society for the day’s educational exhibit. They were able to assist local individuals with specific questions about upcoming events, and colorectal cancer screenings and treatment.

One of the day’s highlights was when survivors who visited the Prevent Cancer Super Colon encouraged others to get regular colonoscopies.

Check out the video of the event and some of the enthusiastic visitors who shared their personal stories and their impressions of the Prevent Cancer Super Colon.

Californian’s lives are also protected through the California Colon Cancer Control Program (CCCCP) whose mission is to save lives by preventing and reducing the devastating effects of colon cancer for Californians through education, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and integrated preventive services, with special emphasis on the underserved.  CCCCP is a federally funded program, run by the CDPH, established to increase awareness of colon cancer through public health education.  Unlike many other cancers, colon cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable through early detection.

Watch YouTube video!

What started out as a slow morning quickly began to change about the time “Elvis” was in the market. Folks loaded down with their fresh fruits and vegetables started strolling over to see why Elvis was hanging out with a large, 8 ft tall, 20 foot long, inflatable colon – and exactly what it was.  Initially, there was a look of shock on some faces and a few skeptical comments ranging from, “Oh man, it’s really a colon,” followed quickly by, “I’m not going in there.” But one by one they filed through – and learned about colon cancer  facts, risk factors and early detection. One young couple and their daughter traveled 30 miles to see the Super Colon, asked a few questions, and shared some concerns.

As I am with all Super Colon stops, I’m overwhelmed by the personal stories shared with me. One story in particular touched my heart. A woman of 57 came over with her 15 year-old son and told me how she had lost both of her parents to colon cancer in the last two years. Sadly, her father lost his fight after battling lung cancer previously. Before the family could heal from the loss, her mother became ill and the doctors, without testing, attributed it to anxiety over losing her husband. After 6 months, tests were finally performed and her mother was diagnosed with colon cancer. She lost her fight within months. As the woman told the story and walked through the exhibit, she cried; the loss so evident in her every word and every step.
After talking more with the woman, I found she had yet to get a colonoscopy herself! Both she and her brother had planned to after their dad was diagnosed, but never got around to it. Then they talked about it again after their mother was diagnosed. Still, neither one had had a colonoscopy. I wanted to slap her and scream, “Wake up!” Instead I asked if she wanted her son to feel the same pain she was feeling right now? She looked at her son and, of course, the answer was no.

She left with my card and a promise to contact me as soon as she made her appointment, and again after the colonoscopy, to let me know how it went. Her son promised to nag her until she had scheduled an appointment and had the procedure. I hope I get an email from her soon.

I want to thank our partners that made the Nashville Super Colon stop possible; the Tennessee Comprehensive Cancer Control Program and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Both organizations did an outstanding job getting local media interested in the exhibit and getting the word out to the community. Also, our sincere gratitude to sanofi-aventis for sponsoring the event.  Interested in learning more about colorectal cancer (CRC), want to ask a question or share your personal story? Visit ScreeningSaves.org .

Watch the video!

“This charity race is really inclusive. Whether you want to walk, jog, or run there is an event for you”, said one runner as he toured the exhibit.  The race had over 6,000 participants and raised over $400,000.

The Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation had the Prevent Cancer Super Colon onsite to spread the message of cancer prevention and early detection.  Visitors learned about the importance of colorectal screening, prevention tips, risks for developing colorectal cancer, symptoms and treatment options.  They also had facing painting, balloon art for the kids and a dietician with healthy eating tips.  A patient navigator and exercise physiologist rounded out the professionals offering information.

Check out the video!

The great on-site experts from both organizations not only offered tours of the exhibit, but spent time with individuals answering questions and sharing information about prevention and early detection.   Healthy eating was also a headliner as a nutritionist talked about diet and provided healthy snacks.  Presentations throughout the day gave attendees the opportunity to explore genetic factors, nutrition, screening and other topics in depth.   The enthusiastic staff helped everyone who visited the Super Colon understand the message that colon cancer is Preventable, Treatable, Beatable!