Frequently Asked Questions

Get Your Rear in Gear® is the signature event of the Colon Cancer Coalition. It is the largest colon cancer-focused event series in the United States. In addition to raising funds to increase screening rates and awareness for colon cancer, Get Your Rear in Gear is also a call to take care of your body and make healthy choices. Money raised has immediate impact on the local community by being invested back to increase screening for colorectal cancer and raise awareness through public education projects.

A 5K is 3.1 miles.

Yes, most Get Your Rear in Gear events are electronically timed. If the event in your area is not timed it will be noted on the local event information page. You may choose not to be timed. Walkers who would like to be timed should register as a runner.

Marathon-quality medals are given to the top finishers in traditional age groups. Many events also provide awards for the top overall male and female finishers. If other awards are given, the information will be included on the local event information page.

In case of inclement weather, Get Your Rear in Gear events will not be re-scheduled. Our full weather policy is available here.  

Dogs and other pets are discouraged and some locations prohibit animals of any kind, with the exception of service animals.  Specific pet information for your event is on the local event information page.  

Strollers are welcome. Those participating in the 5K run, please be courteous of other participants and line up towards the back of the pack.

Participants using a wheelchair are welcome. Most Get Your Rear in Gear events are held on paved courses. If you have specific questions about the route in your area or accessibility at the event site, please see the race map, or contact the local event director.

All Get Your Rear in Gear events are open to both runners and walkers.  Please register as a runner if you want to be timed and a walker if you plan to walk or don’t need a time.

This is ever changing with COVID-19 rules and regulations, but we are pleased that on-site registration is again available. Check for the most recent updates on the individual event page.

This is ever changing with COVID-19 rules and regulations. Please check the information on the local event information page to see if your event will have a packet pick up.

Specific packet pick-up and check-in information will be available on each local event information page.

Your registration includes your race number and an event t-shirt, as well as refreshments following the run/walk, timed results, event photo gallery, medals for the top finishers, awards for the teams and individuals, etc.

Self-identified survivors receive complimentary registration and a special survivor t-shirt. If you are a cancer survivor, select your local event here and choose the “survivor” option in the registration-type menu.

Parking varies for each Get Your Rear in Gear event. Please review the local event page for any specific parking instructions for your event.

You can pick up packets for others in your household.

Unfortunately we are unable to mail t-shirts to registered participants. You are invited to have a member of your household or a friend pick your packet for you.

Fundraising is appreciated, and we rely on participant fundraising to make an impact on awareness and screening in the local community. Fundraising is not, however, required to be a part of a Get Your Rear in Gear event. For more information about fundraising, please see our Fundraising FAQs.

Yes, when registering for the second (or third, or forth) event you will be considered a “returning user.” When registering, login with the same credentials used for the previous event(s). If you have misplaced this information use the link provided to ask for a password reset, you will need the email address used to register for a previous event.

Please contact us to request your registration be updated. Please include your name, age, and event you are participating in (Twin Cities, Boston, Houston, Seattle, etc.)  

Log in to your participant dashboard. Find the MY INFO tab. Here there is an option to register another participant.

Unfortunately, our registration software does not support early versions of Internet Explorer (7 or earlier). If you are having trouble registering or viewing items in your participant dashboard, please try using Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer 8 or later. If you are still having trouble, please contact us and we’ll help you figure it out. 

Yes, we can set up billing codes for your organization. Please contact us to arrange.

 Log in to your participant dashboard. There choose the option to create or join a team. 

This is ever changing with COVID-19 rules and regulations, but we are pleased that on-site registration is again available. Check for the most recent updates on the individual event page.

When you go to register select “Create or Join a team.” The first person to register for a team will automatically be designated the team captain.

Yes! When you register select “Create or Join a team.” You will then be able to reactivate your team from previous events, and contact your team members to invite them to this year’s team.

 No problem! Log in to your participant dashboard. On the right hand-side of their dashboard choose to add yourself to a team. Don’t forget to customize your team page with the reason you are participating!

 Log in to your dashboard and select the “Create or Join a team” option.

Log in to your participant dashboard. Once you are on the dashboard page click the MY INFO tab. From there choose “register another member”.

Yes, we can set up billing codes for your organization to either form a team or pay for multiple registrations. Please contact us to arrange.

You are receiving these emails because you are registered as a Team Captain. All Team Captains are automatically opted-in to receive event updates and other important information about the event you have registered for. You may not opt out of emails from this event as many of your teammates may not register with unique email addresses and you may need to pass important details on to your team members. Information that may include venue details, packet pick-up information, any weather-related updates, or other vitally important information. 

There is no fundraising minimum to participate in a Colon Cancer Coalition event, but we appreciate any and all donations. Money raised by runners and walkers like you help us reach our goals of increasing screening for the nation’s No. 2 cancer killer. If each our participants raised or donated just $35 that would give the Colon Cancer Coalition an additional $1 million each year to help reach the goal of an 80% colon cancer screening rate in every community.

Money raised at each event stays in the local area to further colon cancer education, awareness and screening. For examples of how the money has been used visit our grants page.  

When you register you are automatically set-up with a fundraising page. Personalize your page with your story or inspiration for participating, and then send emails to your friends and family asking them to support your efforts. 

Yes! When you register, simply connect your participant dashboard to your Facebook account to automatically create a Facebook Fundraiser that syncs to your event fundraising totals.

Choose “LOGIN” at the top of the event page. Use the email address and password used when you registered. If you have misplaced your password, use the link provided to request a password reset. If you do not get an email please call at 952-378-1237 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Please be patient, we need reset passwords manually and will help you as soon as possible.

From your participant dashboard click on the “email” tab. There you will find options to customize emails, email individuals on your team, the entire team, etc. You can always contact us with any questions. 

You have the opportunity to personalize your page URL during the page setup process in the participant dashboard.

Yes, they can send a check to the Colon Cancer Coalition, 2950 Xenium Ln N, STE 102, Minneapolis, MN 55441. Be sure they include your name, team name (if applicable) and the local event in which you are participating in a note included with the check. Please be sure they include an email address to receive a donation receipt.

To have the donations be counted towards the online fundraising totals and be eligible for fundraising prizes, please mail all checks to the Colon Cancer Coalition, 2950 Xenium Ln N, STE 102, Minneapolis, MN 55441, no less than 10 days before the scheduled event. Please be sure to note the event and the participant and/or team for which to attribute the gifts. Use the donation register to record multiple donations. Please do not send cash in the mail. You may also drop off cash or check donations on event day.

Please endorse the check to the Colon Cancer Coalition and mail to Colon Cancer Coalition, 2950 Xenium Ln N, STE 102, Minneapolis, MN 55441, or drop it off  on race day.

Cash donations can be dropped at an event. Please do not send cash through the mail. Instead please make your gift online or mail a check.

Unfortunately, we cannot allow offline donations (cash and checks) to be entered by individual fundraisers. Please mail all checks to the Colon Cancer Coalition, 2950 Xenium Ln N, STE 102, Minneapolis, MN 55441 or drop them off on event day. Use the donation register to record multiple donations. You may also drop off cash or check donations on event day.

Download the individual giving form here. A donation register for fundraisers is here.

A list of people who have contributed to your fundraising activities can be found in your participant dashboard.

Log in to your participant dashboard, click on send email, there are sample messages you can use to thank your donors. 

Congratulations! Someone has donated to the Colon Cancer Coalition through your participant page! Thank you for your efforts! We appreciate it.

Definitely, after making your donation find your company list on our matching gifts page, or contact us for help.  

Please contact us and we can find the donation and move it to an individual or team.

Checks may be mailed to the Colon Cancer Coalition offices at 2950 Xenium Ln N, STE 102, Minneapolis, MN 55441. Donations can be made over the phone by calling 952-378-1237 Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Central Time.

Cash donations can be given to an event participant to be dropped off during an event. Please do not send cash through the mail. Instead please make your gift online or mail a check.

Make the check out to the “Colon Cancer Coalition.” Include the event city and a participant or team name (if applicable) in the memo line or in an accompanying note. Mail the check to the Colon Cancer Coalition, 2950 Xenium Ln N, STE 102, Minneapolis, MN 55441. If you would like a receipt for your records, please include your email address.

Visit the the “DONATE” page on our website, from there you can choose to make a general donation, make a gift in honor or memory of a loved one, or support an event participant.

Yes, please contact us with your name, the event you are donating to, and who the gift should be allocated to.

Please contact us and request the gift be moved from to the team to a specific participant. Please include your name, email address and the specific participant’s name. We will move the donation and reply with confirmation of the change.

Any gift made online, or an offline donation and includes an email address, will receive a donation receipt automatically from the system. To request a duplicate receipt please contact us. Include the email address used with the online donation, and/or as much information about the gift as you can remember.

Donations made to support participants, Fundraise Your Way fundraisers, gifts in Memory and Honor of someone touched by colon cancer, and gifts to the general fund are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Get Your Rear in Gear and other event registration fees are not tax deductible.

Yes, team and participant pages remain active until registration is open for the next year’s event.

Definitely, after making your donation find your company list on our matching gifts page, or contact us for help.  

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We rely on generous community partners to make our events successful. If you are interested in sponsoring your local event through a cash sponsorship or in-kind donation (water, refreshments, entertainment, photography, etc.) please contact us.  

Get Your Rear in Gear and Tour de Tush events cannot happen without our tireless volunteers. Help is needed in many capacities from being a part of the local race committee, to registration, water stops and course marshals during the event. Complete information about volunteering can be found here. Then contact your local event director to let them know how you can help.  

We are happy to help you with any other questions that you may have, please email us anytime, or call 952-378-1237 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Central Time.