Spreading the Word:
Colorectal Cancer - Silent No more
CCA wants to make it easy for you to raise awareness about
colorectal cancer in your local community. Opportunities to spread the word
are readily available at work, in shopping malls, in churches and synagogues,
at health clubs, and anywhere that people gather. You will find many suggestions
for bringing attention to colorectal cancer and all the necessary materials
in this promotional kit. You can also download materials and make as many
copies as you like.
| Bring National CRC Awareness Month to: |
Bring National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to work:
The workplace is a highly effective environment to carry
the message of awareness. Here are some things you can do at your workplace
to raise awareness about colorectal cancer:
- Distribute colorectal cancer information to your coworkers. If you work
in a large company, you might ask for permission to do this in a high traffic
area, such as a lunchroom or lobby. Consider setting up a display table
and providing photocopies of the CCA
fact sheets.
- Place National
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month posters and CCA
facts sheets on company bulletin boards. Some companies have special
bulletin boards for health-related topics - ask your human resources department
about this.
- Arrange an onsite discussion or lunchtime presentation for your coworkers.
Consider asking the human resources department to help you organize this
event. Share your experience with colorectal cancer - the voice of experience
is much more powerful than a handout.
- Get the message in the company newsletter. Many companies have formal
or informal newsletters or communications pieces to keep employees up-to-date.
Contact the editor and ask them to include a piece on colorectal cancer
for the March issue.
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Bring National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to church or
synagogue:
A recent Gallup poll reported that, on average, 47% of Americans
attend a worship service in any given week. There are approximately 300,000
churches, synagogues, mosques, and other houses of worship in the U.S., and
more than 180 million Americans are affiliated with a specific congregation.
You can raise awareness about colorectal cancer through your congregation
with these ideas:
- Share information about colorectal cancer with your congregation. Bring
CCA fact sheets
to worship services or social gatherings. Share your personal experience
with this disease.
- Invite a local health professional to a church gathering to talk about
colorectal cancer.
- Ask your worship leader to have a moment of silence in March to remember
those who suffer from colorectal cancer.
- Offer to drive congregation members to screening appointments.
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Bring National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to your local
mall:
Malls are great places to reach people. The International
Council of Shopping Centers estimates that in an average month 185 million
American adults shop in more than 42,000 shopping centers of all sizes across
the U.S. Additionally, many indoor malls encourage walking programs for seniors
and other fitness enthusiasts.
Here are some ways to bring awareness of colorectal cancer
to your local mall:
- Make arrangements with the manager of the mall to set up an information
booth or display in a high traffic area. Locations near department stores
or grocery stores are usually a good choice. You might also inquire if the
mall has a "Senior's Day" and consider using this day to target your audience.
Display CCA fact sheets
and posters
and pass out CCA
Fact and Symptom cards.
- Invite family members and friends to join you as display hosts.
- Invite other groups to join you - check with your local Wellness Community
to see if they want to join you in this effort.
- Put posters
and CCA fact sheets
up on the local grocery store bulletin boards. Many grocery stores have
a bulletin board for community interest - ask the manager if you can stock
CCA materials.
Check for other shopping locations with community interest information centers.
TOP
Bring National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to your local
hospitals or medical offices:
Local hospitals and cancer centers often host information
days to raise general public awareness about a specific disease. Start working
now to encourage your local hospital to have a Colorectal Cancer Information
Day.
Write a letter to the hospital, medical office or cancer
center asking them to join the Colon Cancer Alliance and other organizations
across the country in spreading the word about colorectal cancer (see
sample).
Work with the hospital, medical office or cancer center
to develop a list of speakers, including local physicians and social workers,
survivors, and caregivers. Consider inviting local dignitaries, such as the
mayor or city councilors.
- Bring a supply of CCA
materials from this kit to hand out.
- Prepare a short speech tailored to the event and the audience (see
sample).
- Talk with your doctors (surgeons, primary care physicians, oncologists,
radiation oncologists, etc.) Ask them to consider displaying information
in their offices about National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Offer
them copies of the CCA
fact sheets (pdf) and newsletter.
Give them blue colorectal cancer awareness
blue star pins to wear in March.
- Hospitals also often host health fairs and invite local health organizations
in the community to participate in the fair. Find out from your local hospital
if they have any health fairs and let them know that you are interested
in setting up a booth and distributing CCA material. Order
materials online from the Colon Cancer Alliance for your health fair.
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Bring National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to your community
center or health club:
More and more Americans are joining community centers and
health clubs, and these centers are encouraging overall good health among
their members. Many health clubs have information sessions about specific
health issues that might affect their members, and most have bulletin boards
where health information is posted. You can deliver the message about colorectal
cancer at your local YMCA, community center, or health club.
- Speak to the manager about the possibility of doing an information session
on colorectal cancer screening. Select a time when people over the age of
40 are likely to be working out. Invite a local health professional to speak,
and share your own personal experience.
- Speak to the manager or health information coordinator to request permission
to put CCA fact sheets
and posters
up on the bulletin board during the month of March. Leave a stack for people
to take with them.
- Talk to others while you are working out - ask them if they have been
screened for colorectal cancer. Share your experience.
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Bring National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to your local
American Cancer Society:
- Contact your local ACS coordinator(s), introduce yourself and offer copies
of our brochures and fact cards for their office.
- Make sure they are aware of CCA and the services we offer and your local
community Voices chapter.
- Attempt to develop a "partnership" with your local ACS to help
support each other with current projects each organization is doing.
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Bring National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to your local
pharmacies:
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Bring National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to local health
fairs:
- Cities host have local health fairs at hospitals, community health organizations
and center, malls, health clubs, etc.
- Contact local community organizations and hospitals to make sure that
they are aware of your organization and find out if they are hosting any
upcoming health fairs.
- Order materials online
from the Colon Cancer Alliance for your health fair.
TOP
Bring National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to your local
grocery stores:
- Put CCA fact sheets
and posters
up on the local grocery store bulletin boards. Many grocery stores have
a bulletin board for community interest - ask the manager if you can stock
CCA materials.
Check for other shopping locations with community interest information centers.
TOP
Bring National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to local social
and volunteer organizations:
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Any one of the above suggestions
is great for bringing awareness to the community. Don't just limit yourself
to what we suggested. Each community is different and there may be other opportunities
for you. We would love to hear your ideas to share with other CCA members
and Voices Coordinators! Email us any ideas or suggestions to abrown@ccalliance.org
Colon
Cancer Alliance, Inc.
175
Ninth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
Office: 212-627-7451
Toll Free Helpline: 1-877-422-2030
Fax: 425-940-6147 ©
copyright 1999-2000, Colon Cancer Alliance.
CCA is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation.
EIN # 86-0947831
The
information provided by the CCA on this website should not be used for
diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute
for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health
problem, you should consult your health care provider.
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