FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nonprofit advocacy organization celebrates cancer survivors and caregivers at the One Million Strong Showcase as a finale to Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Nobody should face colon or rectal cancer since it’s a preventable disease, yet each year 140,000 are diagnosed and 50,000 die. Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) is showcasing the stories of the over one million survivors, and others, in hopes of raising awareness and changing the statistics.

The organization will host the One Million Strong Showcase at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum on April 1, 2016 at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. A live-stream of the showcase will also be available for free at YouTube.com/FightCRC.

“The Showcase is about connecting our community of survivors, family members and friends, and dispelling the taboo issues related to colorectal cancer,” said Anjee Davis, president of Fight CRC. “This night will be an innovative forum for storytelling and it will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts.”

The One Million Strong Showcase will feature three panels full of change-makers dedicated to raising awareness of cancer, treating colorectal cancer and/or sharing their personal stories. Panelists and moderators include:

· Actor Luke Perry

· Renee Nicholas, Stand Up to Cancer

· Monica Hill, No-Shave November

· Dennis Ahnen, M.D., University of Colorado

· Danielle Burgess, two-time survivor, Fight Colorectal Cancer

· Harvey Murff, M.D., Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

· Bill Harb, M.D., The Colorectal Center

· Heather Herrmann, M.S., St. Thomas Health Cancer Care

· Johnny Todd, Yelp Nashville

· Ashley McRoy Disney, two-time survivor

· James Disney, caregiver to Ashley

· Will Lanier, survivor

· Jordan Berlin, M.D., Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

· Rodrick Samuels, Hair Lab Detroit

“The One Million Strong Showcase is an amazing way to come together and bring inspiration and hope to all tuning in who are looking for ways to take action against cancer and do something with the passion that’s brewing inside of all of us who’ve been personally touched by it,” said Danielle Burgess, survivor and Director of Communication for Fight Colorectal Cancer.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the program and live-stream will begin promptly at 5 p.m.

Throughout the evening, guests will be encouraged to engage with the Showcase online through the hashtag #OMScollection – a social media awareness campaign supported by Mayo Clinic. In addition, for any photos posted with the hashtag #StrongArmSelfie on Twitter or Instagram, Bayer HealthCare will donate $1, up to $25,000, to Fight Colorectal Cancer.

Event sponsors include:  AMSURG/Stop Colon Cancer Now; Aquacai; Bayer HealthCare; Big 98; Boehringer-Ingelheim; Cancer Treatment Centers of America; Endochoice; Genentech; Genomic Health; Lilly Oncology; Medtronic; Merck Oncology; Taiho Oncology; Quicken Loans; and Yelp Nashville.

About Fight Colorectal Cancer

Fight Colorectal Cancer is a community of activists who find it unacceptable that colorectal cancer - a preventable disease - is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. In 2005, we were founded by survivors and family members who believed in making a difference. Since then we have grown to be a leading, national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. known for our advocacy. Our team plays an important role in making medical information practical for survivors and their families and provides trusted resources that guide patients from diagnosis through survivorship. We unite the colorectal cancer community by empowering anyone impacted by this disease to share their story, advocate for better policies and get involved in the research process. We are one million strong and we won't stop fighting until there's a cure.