The 2014 Get Your Rear in Gear – Chicago brings two organizations together in the nation’s 3rd largest city.
On Sat., Sept. 27, we are joining forces with the Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation for the 6th annual Get Your Rear in Gear Run/Walk in Chicago. The two organizations are partnering to host the largest colon cancer awareness event in the Chicago-area. An estimated 1,000 people are expected to run or walk to raise awareness, honor survivors, and remember those lost to this disease.
“We were thrilled to partner with Chris4Life on the Chicago 5K this year,” said Anne Carlson, executive director of the Colon Cancer Coalition. “Our two organizations are closely aligned with the same goal: increased screening for colon cancer. By partnering and pooling our resources in Chicago we are able to have a much larger impact on the Chicago-area through awareness and other educational efforts.”
“Much of the money raised at Get Your Rear in Gear – Chicago is dedicated to the Love Your Butt campaign,” adds Micheal Sapienza, executive director of the Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation. “Through this campaign, Chris4Life looks to encourage the people of Chicago to open up and talk about their bottom and inspire individuals to get screened for colon cancer. By partnering with the Colon Cancer Coalition we can ensure as much money as possible is dedicated to this effort.”
Additional money from the 2014 Get Your Rear in Gear – Chicago event will benefit the GI Oncology Program at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.
In the past two years the Colon Cancer Coalition has invested nearly $100,000 raised through this event into education and screening for colon cancer through Adventist Hinsdale Hospital and the 2014 Love Your Butt campaign.
What we know:
- One in 20 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer during their lifetime.
- Colon cancer screening through a colonoscopy can detect and remove colon polyps before they become cancer, preventing the disease from occurring.
- There is a 90 percent 5-year survival rate when colon cancer is caught in early (localized) stages, but only 10% when it is diagnosed in late stages.
- Only 40% of patients nationwide are diagnosed with early stage disease.
- One in 10 patients are diagnosed with colon cancer before the recommended screening age of 50.
- When diagnosed before 50, the disease is most often diagnosed in later stages.
- Learn more.
Get Your Rear in Gear – Chicago will be held on Sat., Sept. 27. On-site registration will open at 7 a.m. The Kids’ Fun Run for children 12 and under begins at 8 a.m., followed by the 5K Run/Walk at 8:30. Advance registration as well as information about volunteering, fundraising, sponsoring, or forming a team is available online at ColonCancerCoalition.org/Chicago.
