On Tuesday, March 6, Fight Colorectal Cancer advocates attending the 6th annual Call-on Congress heard from staff and experts about the challenges to spreading awareness of and increasing research into colorectal cancer amid national budget challenges.

Erica and Ethan Lee of Sacramento, Calif., participate in Call-on Congress training sessions.

Training sessions with Fight Colorectal Cancer staff gave advocates a real world view of the policy and legislative landscape for colorectal cancer. They were given information about key legislation, statistics and talking points for their meetings with lawmakers that will occur on Wednesday.

“It’s so exciting to be here in Washington and on Capitol Hill to see how it all works,” said Erica Lee, an advocate from California who is attending the conference. “It’s easy to complain about ‘politicians in Washington, DC,’ but here I’m part of the solution.” Erica recently lost her mother, Diane, to colorectal cancer.

Advocates can also access a virtual toolbox of outreach strategies, via the Fight Colorectal Cancer website under the Policy and Advocacy tab. Anyone interested in proposed legislation that Fight Colorectal Cancer supports can also find information in the Action Center.

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Time to splash Blue all over!

Today is the first day of March and the first day of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

March is full of Blue Awareness, nationally and locally. Spread the message that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable.

Don’t hide your story! Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your coworkers. Get them screened, teach them the symptoms. Get them involved. Read the rest of this entry »

Join Fight Colorectal Cancer March 5 – 7, 2012 in Washington, DC

Registration is now open!

Christine Niemi

C3 advocate Christine Niemi died early in the morning on July 18th of colon cancer.  Friends who were with her say that she was sleeping peacefully and was not in any pain.  She was 32.

Christine was a member of the C3 Grassroots Action Committee,  leading  the grassroots colorectal cancer community in pushing  for change.

Her death was marked by the same grace and courage that she brought to her advocacy for others with colorectal cancer.  Realizing that she needed more support, she returned home to Nebraska to be near family in June and was hospitalized shortly after.

After her death, her brother Jason wrote,

One request Christy would have is to keep fighting to make people aware of Colorectal Cancer. This became her passion over the last few years. Now it is up to us to pick up where she left off and continue making a difference. Read the rest of this entry »