FALL RIVER, Mass. – Centers for Cancer Care, a part of Southcoast Health, was this month awarded a grant by the Colon Cancer Coalition for providing colon cancer prevention, education and screening programs to the underserved populations in our community. The funds were raised during Get Your Rear in Gear – Boston held in November 2014.

“We are so happy to provide this grant to Southcoast Health to help in creating greater awareness for colon cancer and highlighting the importance of being screened,” said Brian Shelly, local volunteer event director for Get Your Rear in Gear – Boston. “The under-insured deserve the same level of care as the insured and we are happy to be part of the great care Southcoast is providing.”

This grant will help Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care provide:

• Enhancements to the Southcoast Wellness Van to provide colon cancer prevention education and screening for the underserved populations, including minority groups.
• A six-week nutrition and prevention program “Taste of Wellness,” focusing on the benefits of eating healthy and daily exercise to colon cancer patients and survivors.
• Educational lectures and training for local community health workers.
• A Colon Cancer Survivor Support Group.

“We are very proud to have been approved for this grant from Colon Cancer Coalition,” said Kathy Tsonis, Oncology Outreach Coordinator. “This grant will allow us to expand our current community outreach screenings to include culturally sensitive patient education material; educational programming and survivorship networking. We greatly appreciate their support.”

Registration is now open for the 5th Annual Get Your Rear in Gear – Boston on Saturday, September 19, at DCR Mothers Rest at Carson Beach in Boston. For more information or to register visit ColonCancerCoalition.org/Boston.