Serious riders and casual bikers alike are invited to join a month-long Tour de Tush® bike challenge in May 2021. We will be raising money and awareness for colorectal cancer screening across the country. Colorectal cancer is the nation’s No. 2 cancer killer, but it is up to 95% preventable with proper screening. Unfortunately, the number of people being screened has dropped drastically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. By riding along with us on a road bike, a cruiser, a stationary bike, or something in between, we can make more people better aware of the importance of screening.
“After being diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer when I was 50, I made it a personal mission of mine to make sure others also get screened on time,” says Gale Fritsche, who worked with the Colon Cancer Coalition to make the very first Tour de Tush a reality in 2015. “Cycling helped me remain active through treatment and also gave me a sense of community. In the past six years, we have raised significant funds for colorectal cancer screening and awareness in the Lehigh Valley. I am excited to bring this event to a national audience and support the Colon Cancer Coalition’s screening and awareness efforts across the county.”
“Screening for colorectal cancer is a literal lifesaver,” says Chris Evans, president of the Colon Cancer Coalition. “COVID-19 lockdowns and health care shortages have resulted in delayed or missed diagnosis and untold effects on countless individuals. As the nation begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we hope that the Tour de Tush national bike challenge will help raise spirits and build awareness of these missed screenings and jumpstart local screening programs. We are thrilled that the money raised through this virtual bike event will help fund local efforts for colorectal cancer screening.”
“Tour de Tush has been a staple event in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania since its inception six years ago,” said Julien Sauvagnargues, president of Olympus Corporation of the Americas. “Olympus is thrilled to support the expansion of this virtual ridership program, bringing it from the backyard of our America’s Headquarters in Pennsylvania to neighborhoods across the United States. We are proud to support the Colon Cancer Coalition’s ongoing efforts to encourage screening for colorectal cancer, especially as the nation will be facing the results of sharp declines in cancer and other health screenings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Registration and additional information are available at ColonCancerCoalition.org/TourDeTush.
Just 4 simple steps to make a difference for someone in your community.
- Register, then set your mileage and fundraising goals.
- Fundraise to support colorectal cancer screening and awareness programs. Fundraising is not required but highly encouraged!
- Ride! All miles in May count toward your mileage goal.
- Celebrate with us during a livestream with survivors, partners, sponsors, and more on May 31!
Share your story!
The number of people who are living with or have survived colorectal cancer in the United States exceeds 1 million. Event participation for colorectal cancer patients and survivors is free. Fundraising by participants is encouraged, but not required. Patients and survivors are also invited to share their personal story of colorectal cancer with Olympus for the “100 stories of colorectal cancer” to raises awareness about the importance of screening. To learn how to be a part of it, visit the project page.
About Olympus Corporation of the Americas
Olympus is passionate about creating customer-driven solutions for the medical, life sciences, and industrial equipment industries. For more than 100 years, Olympus has focused on making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling by helping to detect, prevent, and treat disease; furthering scientific research; and ensuring public safety. Olympus is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with more than 35,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries and regions.
Olympus Corporation of the Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Corporation, is headquartered in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, USA, and employs more than 5,500 employees throughout locations in North and South America. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.
