The Muscatine Journal in Muscatine, Iowa ran an article on Thursday, July 7 highlighting the Get Your Rear in Gear River City event on September 17, 2011. Read the full story here or full text below.
In an email to Get Your Rear in Gear, event chair Bryan Fessler described why he decided to bring the event to River City:
I choose to start Get Your Rear in Gear River City, Ia, after myself and six other members of my family participated in the Des Moines event in Oct. 2010. This also is a way for me to pay forward the kindness and support shown to my family during my wife’s eight-year battle with colon cancer. This community was so supportive during her illness as well as for the nearly two years since her death. I chose the event date to coincide with the anniversary date of her passing (9-19-09).
Bryan plans to use the money raised at the River City race to used to partner with Trinity Regional Health System in Muscatine to provide financial assistance with screenings.
Putting the rears in motion: Muscatine man hopes people can help honor his late wife and fight colon cancer, too
Cynthia Beaudette | Posted: Thursday, July 7, 2011 10:09 pm
MUSCATINE, Iowa — Muscatine-area residents can start getting their “rears in gear,” for a first-time local fundraiser.
Donations and registrations for the Get Your Rear in Gear 5 K Run/Walk for Colon Cancer are now being accepted, said event organizer Bryan Fessler of Muscatine. The event will be held Saturday, Sept. 17. Registration is at 7:15 a.m.and the walk begins at 8:30 a.m.
Get Your Rear In Gear events are part of the non-profit Colon Cancer Coalition’s national campaign to raise funds for and awareness of colon cancer.
The local event will take place at Discovery Park, 3300 Cedar St., in honor of Fessler’s wife, the late Ellen Fessler, who died from colon cancer in 2009 at age 50, after an eight-year battle with the disease.
Bryan Fessler, 51, said proceeds from the event will help local residents who need help paying for colonoscopies, a test that can detect colon cancer at the early and most treatable stages.
Registration forms are available at www.getyourrearingear.com/ at the “River City IA 2011” link in the far right column of the homepage.
Paper registrations will also be available beginning next week at Muscatine-area agencies and businesses, said Fessler.
Walgreens in Muscatine along with other area Walgreens are also selling $1 tags which will be displayed in the store with donors’ names, said Fessler.