Explore Resources & Inspiration from ACG
Reezwana Chowdhury, MD, FACG; Chair, ACG Public Relations Committee
March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is a rallying point for ACG members and the GI community to bring attention to the lifesaving benefits of colorectal cancer screening. The ACG Public Relations Committee wants to showcase events and observances from March 2024, and invites you explore the College’s CRC screening educational resources, infographics, social media banners, and awareness tools. Explore all ACG’s activities in March 2024!
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Education Resources
Explore a wealth of resources and downloadable materials developed by ACG experts on the College’s website. As you make your plans for March, explore the College’s CRC Community Education Toolkit with infographics, social media banners, and awareness tools. There are excellent materials to download for use with patients, at community events, and on social media! The College now has a one-page infographic to download translated into 10 languages.
CRC Community Education Toolkit Materials & Banners to Download
Patient Slides “Understanding Colorectal Cancer”
Ride or Stride for 45 Virtual Challenge!
In this virtual event during March 2024, ACG members, your patients, families, and friends are all invited to bike, run, or walk 45 miles in March (or 45 minutes per day during the month) to show your support and enthusiasm for preventing colorectal cancer beginning at age 45 for all average-risk adults. Share your progress and show your commitment to colorectal cancer prevention via social media using #RideOrStrideFor45 and tagging @AmCollegeGastro. Plan an event in your community or with your GI fellowship program. Learn more!
ACG President Participates in Fight CRC’s United In Blue Rally March 12, 2024
On Tuesday, March 12, 2024 in Washington, DC on the National Mall, ACG President Jonathan A. Leighton, MD, FACG represented ACG at the Fight Colorectal Cancer “United in Blue” rally and installation. ACG is proud to be one of the organizations standing with this group of CRC patients, survivors, and caregivers who gathered in Washington, DC to visit with legislators and bring attention to colorectal cancer, the trends in young-onset disease, and to demand that Congress prioritize CRC research and screening. A dramatic installation of 27,400 blue flags near the U.S. Capitol is a powerful visual representation of those younger than 50 who will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2030 unless we do more to educate, screen, and raise awareness.
On Saturday, March 9, 2024, ACG PR Committee Chair Dr. Reezwana Chowdhury, local ACG members, some of Dr. Chowdhury’s amazing colleagues from Hopkins GI, and College staff supported volunteers from Fight CRC to help install the flags on the National Mall. Despite a downpour, they showed their commitment to colorectal cancer awareness!
Bridging Medicine & Music Concert and Program organized by ACG Governor Ronald K. Hsu, MD, FACG on March 22, 2024
2024 Bridging Medicine & Music is a colorectal cancer education program and concert organized by Dr. ACG Governor for Northern California Ronald K. Hsu, MD, FACG, and featuring Special Guest international celebrity Electric Violinist Mark Wood in person at Davis Senior High School Davis, CA on March 22, 2024.
Dr. Hsu invited the College to serve as a Promotional Partner for this event in which Mr. Wood performed a live concert with five orchestras and choirs from the Davis Joint Unified School District in a 2-hour program at the Richard Brunelle Performance Hall in Davis, CA. As part of the event, Dr. Hsu planned a community education program to bring attention to colorectal cancer screening and prevention.
In addition to the in-person program, Dr. Hsu and the team at Davis High School live-streamed the performance to all ACG members and communities nationwide on March 22, 2024.
Dr. Hsu invited several ACG leaders to make short videos highlighting ACG’s commitment and mission in raising CRC awareness to include in the program. Here is Dr. Hsu’s educational video with ACG leaders and Mark Wood.
Bridging Medicine & Music 2024
Tune It Up Concert on March 28, 2024 at 8 pm ET
“Tune It Up” Concert to Raise Awareness of Colorectal Cancer returned for March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 8 pm Eastern under the direction of Dr. Benjamin Levy. The College is grateful to all the talented artists who donated their performances. You can watch the 2024 recording at gi.org/concert.
Peloton Group Ride for “Ride Or Stride For 45” Saturday, March 23, 2024
Details: ACG invited Peloton fans to participate in a 30-Minute HIIT Ride with Alex Toussaint and use the hashtag #ACGRide45ColonCancer to identify themselves as part of the ACG group on the Peloton leaderboard. This event brought attention to age 45 to begin Colorectal Cancer Screening for average-risk adults.
Dress in Blue Day: Friday, March 1, 2024
ACG celebrated “Dress in Blue Day” on Friday, March 1, 2024! The GI community put on their best blue to show support and enthusiasm for lifesaving colorectal cancer screening. Explore some of the photos ACG’s Flickr Album Dress in Blue Day 2024. It’s not too late to share your photos on social media using hashtags #ColorectalCancerAwarenessMonth #BlueForCRC and tag @AmCollegeGastro!
CDC Patient Education Resources in English & Spanish
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control invited ACG to share links to new patient education materials from their “Screen for Life” campaign, including a series of videos, “Strangers with Colons.” CDC offers materials in both English and Spanish.
Go #BlueForCRC During March
The Colon Cancer Coalition invites ACG members to join a national effort with patient advocates to illuminate landmarks blue and raise awareness of colorectal cancer prevention. Visit the Coalition’s Blue for CRC page for resources, best practices, templates, and inspiration. Share your iconic blue landmarks during March CRC Month on social media with #BlueForCRC.
Guidance on Requesting State Proclamations for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month from Fight CRC and the Colon Cancer Coalition
Work with colorectal cancer advocates from Fight CRC and the Colon Cancer Coalition to request a proclamation in your state designating March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Every state’s process is different, but the groups have organized a helpful resource center with the status of all the states, a video tutorial, and a toolkit to download. Most states require a letter explaining why it is important to recognize March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, sample language for the official proclamation, and information about colorectal cancer. Even if there is a proclamation underway in your state, you can support these efforts by adding your voice to the requests.
Get Inspired by ACG SCOPY Award Winners
ACG’s SCOPY Award (Service Award for Colorectal Cancer Outreach, Prevention & Year-Round Excellence) recognizes the achievements of ACG members in their community engagement, education, and awareness efforts for colorectal cancer prevention. ACG members are invited to submit examples of projects and programs that demonstrate outstanding creativity and commitment to spreading the potentially lifesaving message of the importance of colorectal cancer screening and prevention. Explore the impressive range and breadth of winning project 2023: gi.org/SCOPY The deadline for 2024 SCOPY submissions will be May 1, 2024.
For Inspiration: Watch this ACG Virtual Grand Rounds, “Lessons & Pearls from ACG’s SCOPY Award Winners from February 1, 2024
SCOPY Gallery
The post March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month appeared first on American College of Gastroenterology.