By Anjee Davis, President, Fight Colorectal Cancer.org
As a community inspired by the over one million colorectal cancer survivors, we share a common passion. We see the need to fight when one of us is diagnosed. We understand that raising awareness will save lives. We want to see fewer diagnoses and more survivors.
This is our third year of One Million Strong, a national campaign designed to empower and unite survivors, their families and friends. This year, we’re also launching a social media initiative that will bring us all together and harness our strength: the #StrongArmSelfie.
Take a “selfie” while flexing your best “strong arm” pose. Post it to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, making sure to include the #StrongArmSelfie and @FightCRC tags in the caption. And for every photo posted that include the tags, Bayer HealthCare will donate one dollar, up to $25,000 dollars, to our cause!
We’re pulling out all of the blue gear we own. We’re packing around extra blue star pins and I Heart Booty bands and temporary tattoos everywhere we go. We’re decorating our rally signs that highlight why we fight. We’re getting ready to go all out and MARCH.
We are preparing to raise our voices and demand change once again. Over the next year, we will be in even more communities hosting One Million Strong marches. With each city and each march, we gain momentum. Advocates are leading the way, bringing marches into their towns.
Celebrities such as country music artist Craig Campbell, actor Luke Perry and NBA player Andre Miller are all lending their spotlights to draw attention to this cause.
Today, I ask that you join us. Commit to getting loud & marching against colorectal cancer in your own way: Be inspired by fellow fighters and march with us! Let’s create big changes together. We want better treatment options for our friends in the fight. And we want to make more strides toward our goal of 80 percent of those 50 and older screened by 2018.
With each year we grow stronger. You may or may not feel like you’re part of a movement yet. But this year, you can be! So come be a part of this movement. It’s easy — and need you.