With the end of spring comes the winding down of the national Prevent Cancer Super Colon® tour. Since March 1, I’ve traveled to Sebring, Florida, Virginia Beach, Virginia and Thousand Oaks, California with an eight-foot high, twenty-foot long giant inflatable colon as my only companion (Just kidding. We work with a company called Event Strategies Inc. to transport the exhibit. Thanks Cris and Chuck!).
I’m often asked, “You must have the best job ever, huh?” and the answer is always a resounding “Yes.” I travel to random and interesting places across our great country to raise awareness for a cause that saves lives.
Sebring, Florida
Nurse Brooke and her husband Tom Moran, who works for the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County, were amazing hosts for the health fair in Sebring. The 120 attendees were friendly and eager to learn about Prevent Cancer and colorectal cancer prevention and early detection. A screen in the back of the room showed a video of a colonoscopy and a variety of health-related organizations from the Highlands County community gave away educational materials.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Staff members from UVA Cancer Center, our 2013 Screening Saves winner, made nine hours fly by fast! Every Shamrock Marathon participant had to walk by our exhibit to pick up their participation packets. Too many fruit smoothies later (they were giving them away for free…), we had guided over 2,000 people through the exhibit.
Thousand Oaks, California
Amgen’s campus is huge, but our giant inflatable colon was still easy to spot. Our exhibit, a DJ and several other health and wellness organizations made Amgen’s “Wear blue day” a smashing success. (Blue is the color for colorectal cancer!) 200 people walked through the Prevent Cancer Super Colon.
Preventable, treatable and beatable
People are squeamish and awkward about colorectal cancer prevention and early detection. Colorectal cancer will invade the lives of 136,830 Americans in 2014. 50,310 people will die of the disease. It is just as common in women as it is in men. Our exhibit breaks the ice. It’s in your face. You can’t ignore it.
Eat healthy, exercise, get screened and don’t smoke – these steps can greatly reduce your risk for cancer.
Thank you Genentech and Amgen for sponsoring the 2014 Prevent Cancer Super Colon tour. We educated approximately 2,520 people about how to take important steps to reduce their risk for colorectal cancer. Check out more photos of my travels on the 2014 Prevent Cancer Super Colon tour Facebook album. Thanks for an amazing few months!
No Comments