Minneapolis, Minn. / Kansas City, Mo., Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The missing inflatable colon that has captured attention across the globe has not been recovered, but there is good news. The Colon Cancer Coalition is thankful to Quest Diagnostics and the employees at Salix Pharmaceuticals for their offers to replace the STOLEN COLON!
One week after the educational tool was stolen from the back of a pick-up truck in Brookside, MO, and the #StolenColon hashtag captured the attention of the Twitterverse from Kansas City to the UK and beyond, the fundraiser to replace the colon has raised over $11,000. Thanks to the contributions of these two companies and many individuals.
“Colon cancer can be deadly, but it can also be prevented, which is why education about colon cancer and access to screening are so important” said Steve Laczynski, President, Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness, which is based out of Lenexa, Kansas, a Kansas City suburb. “By contributing to the replacement of the #StolenColon, Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness is able to help the Colon Cancer Coalition bring awareness to the disease and educate the community about screening options.”
Quest provides a range of diagnostics services for colon cancer including fecal immunochemical testing and genetic testing for hereditary risk.
“As a leading GI company, we understand the importance of education around colorectal cancer prevention and recognize that as a non-profit, the Colon Cancer Coalition doesn’t have funds at their disposal to replace this vital, educational tool,” says Mark McKenna, President, Salix Pharmaceuticals. “In a unanimous vote by our employees, we chose to donate the funds raised for charitable causes, to replace the Colon Cancer Coalition’s inflatable colon educational tool. There’s nothing better than making a difference in the health care community. This is what motivates us every single day.”
“We are so grateful to these two generous companies for stepping up to replace this valuable educational tool,” said Anne Carlson, President, Colon Cancer Coalition. “Both are dedicated to the early detection and screening for colorectal cancer.”
The #StolenColon was originally purchased in 2017 by the Colon Cancer Coalition through funds raised at Get Your Rear in Gear – Kansas City. This educational tool is used by the University of Kansas Cancer Center around Kansas City and is also sent to events across the country to educate the public about the importance of screening for this disease. While the Coalition is sad about its disappearance, the increase in conversations around colorectal cancer and cancer screening are so important to saving lives from this disease. To that end the colon has done its job - starting conversation and raising awareness.
One new colon will replace the colon housed at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. The Colon Cancer Coalition is still determining where the second colon will be able to have the largest impact on colon cancer and screening awareness efforts. Contributions are still being accepted at coloncancercoalition.org/stolencolon. Donations received above the cost of the colons will be used to further screening, education, and awareness for colon and rectal cancer, the nation’s No. 2 cancer killer for men and women.
About the Colon Cancer Coalition / Get Your Rear in Gear®
The Colon Cancer Coalition is a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, Minn. dedicated to encouraging screening and raising awareness of colon cancer. The organization’s signature Get Your Rear in Gear® and Tour de Tush® event series are volunteer-driven in communities throughout the United States. In 2017 the Colon Cancer Coalition granted over $1 million dollars to local communities that will build and sustain programs promoting early prevention, screening, and patient support services for this disease. 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.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our 45,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.
Quest Diagnostics is a leader in Health and Wellness services that improve outcomes and costs for employers and their employees. The company combines data-driven population management based on its proprietary Blueprint for Wellness® laboratory and biometric screening with integrated access to intervention providers, supporting employees’ on the continuum of care to better health. For more information, visit www.QuestForHealth.com.
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