The 2008 Colondar: Young Survivors Shed Clothes to Shed Light on Colorectal Cancer

Their method may raise eyebrows, but for the fourth year in a row, a group of young cancer survivors is also raising awareness in a provocative but educational calendar known as the Colondar. By showing their scars and sharing their personal stories, the models hope they will save lives by proving colorectal cancer can happen to anyone at any age.

The 2008 Colondar features six men and six women under the age of 50 who have battled and survived colorectal cancer. Each month features a photograph of an ordinary person with an extraordinary story of survival, all of whom were considered "too young" to have colorectal cancer.

Each story is as unique as the individual. The models include a 25-year-old woman whose family history likely led to her diagnosis; a 28-year-old competitive athlete who spent his time raising money for people with cancer; a 37-year-old gastroenterology nurse who was shocked to be in the same position as some of her patients; and a 47-year-old who now spends his time educating others about colorectal cancer after dealing with symptoms of his own for years.

By sharing their symptoms and stressing the importance of early screening and prevention, the models hope that each page in the Colondar will be a reminder that colorectal cancer is not just an "older person's disease" and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.

This year's theme centers on the color blue, which is used nationally to recognize and raise awareness of colorectal cancer. Each model is elegantly draped in flowing blue satin designed to reveal their scars, serving as a poignant symbol of what they have been through and how much they have overcome.

The 2008 Colondar is just one of the many "out-of-the-box" ideas created by The Colon Club, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating young people about colorectal cancer. The organization's goal for the Colondar is to show strength and beauty while also raising awareness and funds to help fight colorectal cancer. Founded by fellow survivor Molly McMaster in 2002, the Colon Club is best known for creating the Colossal Colon, a 40-foot replica of the human colon that has traveled across the country since 2002.

If you would like to order a copy of the Colondar, please visit www.colondar.com.

And if you would like to read about previous years' versions of the Colondar, click the links below.

2007 -- http://www.endonurse.com/hotnews/6bh118474773020.html

2006 -- http://www.endonurse.com/hotnews/5ah315313255085.html

2005 -- http://www.endonurse.com/hotnews/4ch293215.html

Source: The Colon Club

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