'Colondar' Aims to Raise Colon Cancer Awareness

WILTON, N.Y. ─ Their method may raise eyebrows, but for the fifth year in a row, The Colon Club has brought together a group of young cancer survivors to raise awareness in an educational calendar known as the Colondar. By revealing their scars and sharing their personal stories, the models (all of whom are cancer survivors) hope they will save lives by showing that colorectal cancer can happen to anyone at any age. 

The 2009 Colondar features five men and eight women.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. 

The stories are as unique as the individuals. Danielle was a 17-year-old junior in high school when she was diagnosed. Trish, a high school assistant principal, learned the importance of support through her diagnosis, and Doug became a competitive cyclist because of his disease, despite a permanent ostomy. 

Jaimie struggled with ulcerative colitis for years, knowing that he was at increased risk for developing colon cancer, but he never thought it would happen to him, and Karen’s dream of having children was taken from her after being diagnosed with breast cancer, colon cancer and ovarian cancer.By sharing their symptoms and stressing the importance of prevention and early detection, the models hope that each page in the Colondar will be a reminder that colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States and that it is not just "an older person's disease." 

“When you look at the photos, you realize that they could be anyone passing you on the street or sitting next to you in a coffee shop,” said Molly McMaster, a survivor of stage II colon cancer who will celebrate her 10-year cancer-free anniversary in February of 2009.  Molly is also a 2005 Colondar model and co-founder of The Colon Club. 

The price of the 2009 Colondar is $16.50, which includes shipping and handling within the United States. It is available for purchase online and at select locations across the country. Sales of the 2009 Colondar will help The Colon Club continue to produce more of its trademark projects to raise awareness about colorectal cancer. 

To learn more or to buy the Colondar, click here, or contact Molly McMaster via email at molly@colonclub.com.