Monday, April 26, 2010
Just Around the Corner!
We are busy this week making last minute plans for the Heather Ridley Fleeman Battle for Hope scheduled for this Saturday, May 1st at Old Tiger Stadium in Bentonville. Banners to pick up, prizes to get sorted and assigned, volunteers to train... it's a little crazy, but it's going to be a great event!
If you don't know already, the Battle for Hope is named in honor of a young woman from Bentonville who lost her battle with colon cancer at the young age of 28. She had struggled with bowel issues for several years before she was finally diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer. It wasn't suspected due to her young age and the absence of a family history of the disease. The race was created to raise awareness of this deadly cancer - the 2nd deadliest form cancer affecting men and women in the U.S. (lung cancer is #1) and one of the most preventable and detectable.
Hope Cancer Resources offers free colon cancer screening packets annually during Colon Cancer Awareness Month in March, but throughout the year we also have a program to assist the uninsured and underinsured to receive colon cancer screenings. Too often, insurance companies will not pay for a colonoscopy if the patient is under the age of 50, placing the burden of payment - which can amount to around $1,000.00 - upon the patient. How many of us have that kind of cash lying around? Our Save-A-Life program tries to alleviate some of that stress.
There are, of course, outward signs of colon cancer. They include blood in the stool, unusual weight loss, and extreme fatigue. But by the time the patient encounters these symptoms, it can be too late for complete recovery. That's why we are so committed to helping people get screened early, and often. The kits we offer are discreet and can be taken to a lab by the patient themselves.
So, what are you doing this weekend? We have a slight chance of getting a little rain on Saturday, but nothing like we had last Saturday. We will be there, rain or shine. Please join us to support our assistance and educational programs, and to bring attention to the need for early colon cancer detection! See you there!
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