BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Jan. 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Get Your Rear in Gear® – Twin Cities, the flagship event of Edina, MN-based Colon Cancer Coalition, is making the move to Mall of America® (8100 24th Ave. S, Bloomington, MN) for the 11th annual 5K Run/Walk. The race will be held October 11, 2015. Get Your Rear in Gear is the nation's largest run/walk event series that raises awareness and funds for the fight against the nation's no. 2 cancer killer: colon cancer.
"Moving Get Your Rear in Gear – Twin Cities to Mall of America gives us many new and exciting opportunities," says Anne Carlson, executive director of the Colon Cancer Coalition. "We are thrilled about the visibility this partnership gives colon cancer both to local and national audiences. Our supporters have been waiting for the day when colon cancer gets the public attention that other cancers and diseases have had for a long time. Moving our signature race to Mall of America gives us a chance to raise the profile of this preventable cancer."
"Mall of America is proud to welcome the Colon Cancer Coalition to the list of charities we support," states Sara Durham, community relations manager for Mall of America. "We are happy to give support and visibility to a cancer that no one likes to talk about, yet is one of the most common cancers in the United States. The Mall and our staff look forward to supporting this cause throughout the year."
The Colon Cancer Coalition is planning nearly 50 Get Your Rear in Gear events in 28 states throughout 2015. Money raised at these events stays in the local community for the purpose of educating the public on the importance of screening and early detection for the disease. Minnesota's colorectal cancer screening rate is 70%, and the state currently ranks 9th in the nation for the number of people who have been screened. Funds raised in the Twin Cities support the Minnesota Department of Health's Sage Scopes Screening program, a Colorectal Cancer Screening Navigator through the American Indian Cancer Foundation, and other screening awareness programs.
What we know about colon cancer:
- 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.
- 9 out of 10 patients will survive 5+ years when colon cancer is caught in early (localized) stages.
- But only 1 in 10 will reach the 5 year mark when the disease is diagnosed in late stages.
- Right now 6 out of 10 patients nationwide are diagnosed with late stage disease. Many because they put off being screened.
- 7 in 10 Americans over 50 with insurance are not up-to-date on their colon cancer screening.
- Currently 1 in 10 patients are diagnosed with colon cancer before the recommended screening age of 50, and that number is on the rise.
On Sunday, October 11, Get Your Rear in Gear – Twin Cities will start and end in the parking lot just east of Mall of America. The morning will feature a 5K Run/Walk, Kids' Fun Run and activities for the whole family. Registration information is available online at ColonCancerCoalition.org/TwinCities. Information about volunteering, fundraising, sponsoring an event or forming a team is also posted on the website.
About the Colon Cancer Coalition / Get Your Rear in Gear events
The Colon Cancer Coalition is a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis dedicated to raising awareness and encouraging screening for colon cancer. The organization's signature Get Your Rear in Gear events are 100% volunteer-driven in communities throughout the United States. By making the words colon, colorectal and colonoscopy a part of the everyday language, we believe we can overcome the fear and decrease deaths from this largely preventable cancer. For more information visit ColonCancerCoalition.org.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=30266
