OVCRS Events

03/10/11  - Spread the Word!... Stories of Colorectal Cancer

2011 Colon Cancer Awareness Event

In 2011 our Awareness Event focused on our local Survivors. We invited Survivors from the tri-state area to submit their personal story about how Colorectal Cancer has touched their lives. After we received the entries, we chose ten to feature during our 4 day event. The finalists stories were displayed with their photograph at Eastland Mall from Thursday March 10 - Sunday March 13, 2011. The featured survivors were men and women ranging in age from 30 - 80. Each of their stories are unique and the public was able to read them and learn about how Colorectal Cancer is diagnosed, treatments, patient challenges and triumphs. The stories were displayed in the Dillard's Wing of the mall along with several Education Stations.

On Saturday March 12th we held the annual Survivors Breakfast. Over 75 people attended the breakfast which was held in Cafe Court at Eastland Mall. Following breakfast the Survivors and public were invited to hear our key note speakers Charlie & Nan Kelley. Charlie is a Grammy nominated songwriter, producer and musican. He was diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer at the age of 40.... just months after his wife Nan was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. They spoke about how cancer has touched their lives. Charlie is on the board of the Colon Cancer Alliance and together they formed the Blue Note Fund to provide small financial gifts to Colorectal Cancer patients.

Each of the 10 featured Survivors spoke briefly and then we announced our 2011 Blue Star. This award was given to local survivor Mrs. Phyllis Newcomb, who has been great about helping Spread the Word the Colorectal Cancer is Preventable, treatable and beatable. Other speakers included local DJ Johnny Kincaid and Anne Wenderoth of the American Cancer Society.

Pictures of the 2011 Event  

Wednesday March 10 - Saturday March 13, 2010...  What is your colon?  What does it do?  What does it look like?  Visitors to the 4th Annual Tri-State Colorectal Cancer Event found out! 

Ohio Valley Colon & Rectal Surgeons once again hosted Coco The Colossal Colon! Thousands of people visited Coco and the adjacent Education Stations at Eastland Mall in Evansville.  Coco, a 40 foot model of the human colon that you can crawl through is a great way to bring attention to a very serious disease. Visitors learned the risks and symptoms of colorectal cancer, learned about colon health, and were able to see what the inside of your colon looks like. 

One of the most exciting parts of the display was a mock colonoscopy.  It featured a realistic, life size model of a colon and an actual colonoscope that surgeons would use for a colonoscopy.  Visitors could see how the colonoscope works, what it looks like and what the doctor sees when he or she is doing a colonoscopy on a patient.

Local colorectal cancer survivors were invited to a Survivors Breakfast on Saturday morning.  There was a wonderful response and the survivors enjoyed talking with each other and learning more about colorectal cancer.

Throughout the four day event, we were able to educate many people about colorectal cancer, a disease which is Preventable, Treatable and Beatable!

                Pictures of the 2010 Event       

Saturday March 7, 2009 Evansville residents attended the third annual Colorectal Cancer Awareness Event at Washington Square Mall. The feature of the day was Comedian, Author & Colon Cancer Survivor Brenda Elsagher who spoke about her diagosis and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Brenda is an energetic, funny comedian and author who was entertaing, educational and enlightening during her talk: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to My Crisis".  A colorectal cancer survivor herself, diagnosed at the age of 39, Brenda relied on her humor, faith, friends and family, along with good medical care to get through it. Brenda is an international keynote speaker and author of, If the Battle is Over, Why Am I Still in Uniform?  And I'd Like to Buy a Bowel Please! Her third book, Bedpan Banter, comes out in May.

Activites included:  A public health fair, featuring various Healthcare vendors, a photo display of local colon cancer survivors.  (photos by Brian Smith Photograph). A fashion show featuring "cancer sucks" and other cancer support clothing.  Door Prizes, Education Stations, Clowns, Magician, Healthy Food Stations, Fitness Stations, Fitness demonstrations, Kids Corner, Pictures with Captain Colon, Polyp Man & Eneman!

Attendees recieved lot's of information about how they can help prevent colorectal cancer!

Photos of the 2009 Event!

Mayor of Evansville, Jonathan Weinzapfel proclaimed March Colon and Rectal Cancer Awareness Month in the city of Evansville.  To help educate the public about Colon & Rectal Cancer, OVCRS, The Evansville Cancer Center and Freedom Medical hosted the Flush out Colon Cancer Event at Washington Square Mall. 

Highlights of the event included Toilet Trivia.  Toilets were positioned about the mall.  On the outside of the lids were trivia questions about Colon & Rectal Cancer.   The answers were of course located under the lid.  In addition, the 2008 Colander Models were in attendace to sign autographs and for a meet and greet.  The Colander is an annual calendar which features photos of Colon or Rectal Cancer surviors who are all under the age of 50.  The survivors are chosen from all areas of the U.S.  The Colander is produced by The Colon Club, a non-profit organization who's goal is to educate people about Colon & Rectal Cancer.

Other weekend activities included a Survivors Breakfast for Colon & Rectal Cancer survivors and their families, various speakers and hands on activities to educate the public about various type of cancers.

           Pictures of the 2008 Event      

Coco is a four-foot tall, 40-foot-long model of a human colon.  Coco was designed to educate the public about colorectal cancer and other intestinal diseases.  Vistors are able to crawl through the colon and view different colon disorders including cancer represented on the interior walls. 

For Colon Cancer Awareness month in March 2007, Coco came to visit Evansville. The three day event at Washington Square Mall, included Coco, a display of microscopes showing the progression of colon cancer, informational videos and various other medical displays.  The public including hundreds of local students visited the event to learn about colon cancer, the second leading cancer killer in the United States.

Mayor of Evansville, Jonathan Weinzapfel attended the event and proclaimed March 5 - 11 2007 as "Colon and Rectal Cancer Week" for the city of Evansville.  A Survivors luncheon was also held during the weekend.  Local survivors of colon or rectal cancer were invited to join together to celebrate their health and Colon Cancer Awareness Month.

The event was organized by Ohio Valley Colon & Rectal Surgeons and the Evansville Cancer Center.  It was additonally sponsored by various physicians and organizations from the community.                                          

   Pictures of the 2007 Event