Generating awareness for the fight against colon and rectal cancer is very important to my family. Maria Jung, my late wife and mother of our three wonderful children, succumbed to the debilitating effects of this awful disease after a nine-year fight in 2013.
Working with the Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) in 2009, Maria spearheaded efforts to bring the Undy Run/Walk to Cincinnati. Now in its sixth year, thousands have taken to the downtown streets dressed with their underwear and boxer shorts on the outside to bring attention to that area of the body affected by colon cancer.
This year’s event will be held at Lunken Field on October 3, 2015, beginning at 9am. Click here to sign up.
If wearing your underwear in public is not unique enough, attendees have the rare opportunity to walk through the Colon Cancer Alliance’s larger-than-life inflatable colon exhibit, which helps create a dramatic visual by showing visitors the various stages of this disease.
A fun twist to a serious topic, the Undy Run/Walk allows hundreds of people who have been affected by colon cancer to come together as a community. The event honors survivors in attendance and also takes a moment to remember those who have lost their battles.
Whether you are an avid runner, a survivor or are supporting someone affected by this disease, the Undy Run/Walk provides a morning of inspiration and encouragement while making colon cancer a topic that is OK to talk about.
Within days of Maria’s passing, our family received a letter from Andrew Spiegel, then-CEO of the Colon Cancer Alliance.
The letter gave details, as provided by Cincinnati-area gastroenterologist Dr. Michael Kriens, of how Maria’s efforts directly led to the first “save” of a Cincinnatian who through proper diagnosis and treatment was spared the pain and finality that often comes with this dreaded disease
Clearly every dollar raised by the Undy Run/Walk can indeed make a difference.
It’s not March, which is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and I know that many of you are in the midst of your own personal causes and campaigns, but please take a few minutes in the week ahead to help us raise awareness for the ONLY cancer that is truly preventable, treatable AND beatable.
Sign-up and participate. Make a donation. Tell a friend. And I will see you this Saturday morning beginning at 7am.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
SOURCES:
Colon Cancer Facts and Figures courtesy of the American Cancer Society
Photo courtesy of the Colon Cancer Alliance