Colorectal Cancer Equity Foundation

Allow us to reintroduce ourselves!   About 3.5 years ago, the Colorectal Cancer Equity Foundation became a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a simple but important mission: to fight for equal access to colorectal cancer (CRC) care for African American men and other underserved communities.   No matter where people live, work, worship, or play, we are here to ensure they have the knowledge, screenings, and support needed to prevent and beat this disease. We remain dedicated to breaking down CRC-related barriers, so everyone has a fair shot at good health and a brighter future.   Here’s a look at 7 of our wins from the last 366 days: [1] Free CRC Screenings: In 2023 and 2024, we offered free stool-based CRC tests to people aged 18 to 75 in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, as early-onset CRC continues to rise globally and has become a pressing public health issue. [2] National CRC Awareness Month: In January 2024, we partnered with 33 organizations to successfully advocate for March 2024 to be designated as CRC Awareness Month. We’re grateful for the support of President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris in the fight against CRC. [3] Supporting Early Detection: We donated over $45,000 and teamed up with Fight Colorectal Cancer and the Colorectal Cancer Alliance to support screening programs for Black Americans and raise national awareness during CRC Awareness Month. [4] Research Impact: We supported the drafting, editing, submission, and publication of 12 peer-reviewed research articles in 2024, driving forward the conversation on CRC. [5] Empowering Leaders: From March to April 2024, we awarded over $10,000 in scholarships to CRC advocates and academic leaders, allowing them to attend key conferences and amplify our mission of promoting CRC justice for all. [6] Joining National Efforts: We were honored to join the American Cancer Society’s National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) in April 2024, working with leading organizations to boost CRC screening rates and improve health outcomes. [7] Engaging Communities: We continue to champion CRC equity and provide education through our growing social media presence, engaging thousands of followers across Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.   We are grateful for your support and look forward to creating even greater impact together. Let’s keep pushing forward for CRC justice and health equity!

🚩 Important Update: The 2025 WWAY Health Fair is Rescheduled! 🚩 Your safety is our top priority. Due to the current weather conditions, the WWAY-TV, LLC Health Fair, originally planned for tomorrow, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, February 4th. We want to ensure everyone can enjoy a safe and inspiring experience. This health fair is an incredible opportunity to connect with local health professionals, explore the latest wellness trends, and gather tools to support your health goals for 2025. We’re excited to share all the amazing resources we’ve prepared, and we can’t wait to see you next month! Thank you for your understanding, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. In the meantime, stay safe, stay warm, and take care of yourself. Mark your calendars for February 4th; let’s make 2025 your healthiest year yet! 💙

Take Charge of Your Health This Thursday! 💙 Join us on January 23rd in Wilmington, NC, for an empowering day focused on your health & wellness! This FREE event, hosted by WWAY-TV, LLC & Novant Health, is packed with opportunities to: ✅ Connect with health experts ✅ Learn the latest wellness trends ✅ Access valuable tools to crush your 2025 health goals We’re thrilled to bring two life-changing resources to YOU: 🚶♂️ Explore the MegaColon: Step inside this massive, interactive educational tool (the size of a bus!) & learn how #ColorectalCancer (CRC) is preventable, treatable, & beatable. 🩺 Get a FREE FIT Screening: Ages 18+ can receive a fecal immunochemical test (FIT)—a quick, non-invasive way to check for hidden blood in your stool, a possible early sign of CRC or other conditions. 📅 Event Details: 🗓 Date: January 23rd ⏰ Time: 11 AM - 3 PM 📍 Location: Independence Mall, Wilmington, NC Let’s make 2025 the year of wellness & equity—together, we can inspire change and create healthier communities. 💪 Don’t miss this incredible event. See you there! #CRCEquity #HealthEquity #WellnessGoals #HealthIsWealth

We will be leaving X (formerly known as Twitter) within the next 24 hours, as it no longer reflects the values we uphold. Stay connected with us on Bluesky Social (https://lnkd.in/gyCrQjmE) & other platforms that support our unwavering commitment to justice & equity. 💙 #CRCEquity

🚨 ICYMI: Our #MegaColon is ready to take 2025 by storm! 🎈 This one-of-a-kind educational tool is transforming lives across the country by raising awareness about colorectal cancer prevention, screening, & treatment. Whether you're hosting a health fair, community event, or school program, the MegaColon is an unforgettable way to spark life-saving conversations. ✨ Spots are filling up FAST for 2025, so don’t wait! Submit your reservation request today: https://lnkd.in/gXC5-svS #CRCequity #ColorectalCancerAwareness #CommunityHealth #SaveLives

Man...I am truly excited about my upcoming 1st talk of 2025 entitled “Research without Reach: Are You Missing the Opportunity to Save Lives?” as part of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)'s Professional Advancement Virtual Engagement Series (PAVES). 📅 Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 ⏰ Time: 3:00-4:00 PM Eastern 💻 Location: Virtual This webinar, hosted by the NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) focuses on the critical role of research dissemination in advancing cancer health equity. Research is only as powerful as its ability to reach the communities it’s meant to serve. In this session, my co-presenter Dr. Khadijah A. Mitchell, PhD, MS and I will tackle questions like: 🙃 Are your research findings confined to journals, or are they making a tangible difference in communities? 🤔 How can we leverage creative, accessible strategies to ensure our work reaches those who need it most? 🧐 What steps can we take to engage policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders to translate research into action? Attendees will leave with actionable tools to: ✅ Expand the reach of their research beyond traditional platforms. ✅ Engage key stakeholders to drive meaningful policy change. ✅ Promote health equity by connecting research with real-world application. This topic is personal to me because I have seen the power of intentional dissemination firsthand. Whether through community-based participatory research, leading efforts to improve colorectal cancer outcomes for African-American men, or collaborating on programs to address disparities globally, I have learned that research without reach is a missed opportunity to save lives. Let’s bridge the gap between knowledge & action to make an impact where it matters most. I am grateful to partner with the NCI to support this vital work & hope to see you there! 📢 Register today & join us for a thought-provoking conversation: https://lnkd.in/grDEGpAE #CancerHealthEquity #ResearchImpact #HealthEquityMatters #DisseminationForChange #ColorectalCancer #HealthEquityNow

🎉 Great news for our health—& a long-overdue step forward! The FDA has finally banned Red No. 3, a petroleum-based dye linked to #cancer in animal studies, from food and ingested drugs. While this harmful dye was banned in cosmetics over 35 years ago, it remained in candies, snacks, and even medications—many of which were marketed to children. These dyes aren’t just harmless colors. They’re synthetic chemicals that disrupt our biology and provide zero nutritional value. They may make food look more appealing, but we must ask: At what cost to our health? While banning Red No. 3 is a step in the right direction, it’s just the beginning. Our food system is still filled with additives and chemicals that can harm us. The best way forward is simple: choose whole, real foods whenever possible. Here’s how you can take action: 💙 Read ingredient labels. Be aware of what you and your family are consuming. 💙 Prioritize your health. Opt for fresh, minimally processed foods. This isn’t just about Red No. 3—it’s about creating a future where our food supports our health, not undermines it. Many common products still contain Red No. 3, including candies, baked goods, fruit-flavored drinks, and even medications like gummy vitamins and cough syrups. Let’s work toward a food system where safety and health come first. Together, we can make better choices for ourselves and future generations. Learn more here via AP News: https://lnkd.in/gMDVE48X Your health matters. Let's build a healthier future together. #CRCEquity #HealthFirst #FoodSafety #HealthEquity

Join us & Corning Incorporated on January 23rd in Wilmington, NC, for an inspiring day dedicated to your health and wellness! This FREE event hosted by WWAY-TV, LLC & Novant Health packed with opportunities to connect with experts, learn about wellness trends, & access valuable resources to help you crush your health goals in 2025. We are excited to bring two impactful resources to YOU: 🚶♂️ Walk through our #MegaColon, a larger-than-life, interactive educational tool the size of a tour bus! It’s traveling the country spreading the powerful message that colorectal cancer (CRC) is preventable, treatable, and beatable. 🩺 Ages 18 and up can receive a FREE fecal immunochemical test (FIT)—a quick, non-invasive screening for hidden blood in stool, which can be an early sign of CRC or other conditions. Take charge of your health and inspire those around you to do the same. Together, we can make 2025 the year of wellness & equity! 📅 Date: January 23rd ⏰ Time: 11 AM - 3 PM 📍 Location: Independence Mall, Wilmington, NC Let’s make health equity a reality, one step at a time. See you there! #HealthGoals #Wellness #NCDHHS #WWAYHealthFair #2025Health #CRCequity #CommunityEngagement #ColorectalCancer

Achieving equity in colorectal cancer (CRC) care means addressing the many obstacles that stand in the way: 🔹 Younger individuals often face delayed screenings due to outdated assumptions about age and risk. 🔹 Biases and a lack of cultural understanding leave many communities underserved. 🔹 Many people remain unaware of their higher risk factors or don’t know their family history. These barriers are more than statistics—they represent lives impacted and opportunities missed. But we can make a difference. ✔️ Educate yourself and others about risk factors. ✔️ Advocate for culturally sensitive care that meets the unique needs of every community. ✔️ Be your own health advocate—early detection saves lives. Together, we can create a future where CRC care is equitable, accessible, and effective for all. #HealthEquity #ColorectalCancerAwareness #AdvocateForYourHealth #PublicHealth #EquityMatters #CRCequity #NeverTooYoung #ColorectalCancer

Man Up to Cancer is hiring an Executive Director! 🐺 🎉 After five years of building community — and one monumental year as a nonprofit organization — we are ready to bring aboard a someone with nonprofit management experience to lead our rowdy crew into the next chapter of MUTC. Our job posting is attached as a PDF. Please share if you know someone who might be the perfect match for this role! Man Up to Cancer is a non-profit organization that inspires men to connect and avoid isolation during their cancer journeys. We offer peer-to-peer support, retreats, local chapters, and chemo care backpack program — all geared toward improving the quality of life of our members, and changing the way men go through cancer.