2006 "Colondar" Calendar Features Colon Cancer Survivors

For the second year in a row, young cancer survivors have bared their bellies in a calendar that brings attention to a deadly disease few want to talk about -- colorectal cancer.  Tonya Adams Brown, MD, a gastroenterologist, and Jennifer Blaire, a nursing student, are among the survivors who decided to become a part of the "Colondar (SM)."

The 2006 Colondar is not only a racy calendar, it is also educates about colorectal cancer in an unexpected way by telling each model's personal story. These unlikely survivors, all of whom were diagnosed with colorectal cancer under the age of 50, are revealing their scars and telling their stories to show that their disease can affect anyone at any age. In addition to Tonya and Jennifer, this year's 18 model-survivors include a college student, an ostomate, a firefighter, a U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Commander, and a Hurricane Katrina evacuee from Slidell, La.

The 2006 Colondar models were all considered too young to have colorectal cancer, a disease that is stereotyped as an older person's disease. The goal of the 2006 Colondar is to show strength and beauty while helping to raise awareness and funds in the fight against colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.  2006 cover model Erika Kratzer is the original inspiration for the Colondar. Erika was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer at the age of 22 and was given little hope of survival. She has been cancer-free since 2001 and was Miss November in the 2005 Colondar.

Along with stories and photos, the 2006 Colondar features U.S. holidays, facts and important dates in colorectal cancer history. The 2006 Colondar is sponsored by Autosuture, the Colon Cancer Alliance, the Figg Tree Foundation, Fleet Pharmaceuticals, Glens Falls Hospital, Olympus America, and the STOP Colon/Rectal Cancer Foundation.

The price of the 2006 Colondar is $15.00, including shipping and handling within the United States. It is available for purchase at www.COLONDAR.com and at selected locations across the country.

Sales of the 2006 Colondar benefit The Colon Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young people about colorectal cancer. The Colon Club is best known for creating the Colossal Colon®, a 40-foot long replica of the human colon that has traveled across the country since 2002. Last year, The Colon Club produced the 2005 Colondar, which won a 2005 Communicator Award and a 2005 American Graphic Design Award.

Source: The Colon Club

Share this article: Email, Slashdot, Digg, Del.icio.us, Yahoo!MyWeb, Windows Live Favorites, Furl
Add this article feed to: RSS, My Yahoo, Newsgator, Bloglines