Giant Colon Tour – Winnipeg, Manitoba

TORONTO, Aug. 26 /CNW/ - Winnipeg, Manitoba’s Garden City Shopping Center to host The Giant Colon -- an interactive, educational exhibit that is a collaborative effort between The Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC), The Province of Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba and The Canadian Cancer Society, Manitoba Division. This event will also help promote the 3^rd annual “Kick Butt for Colorectal Cancer” Walk/Run held in Kildonan Park September 11^th 2010.

WHAT:	The Giant Colon Exhibit is a forty-foot long and eight foot high inflatable, walk - through replica of the human colon. Visitors of all ages are introduced to various pathologies that may threaten the human colon - three dimensional and “super sized.” Pathologies include: external and internal hemorrhoids, ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s disease, rectal cancer, various types of polyps, diverticula, and advanced colorectal cancer. The Giant Colon Exhibit is equipped with floor lights and sensors on both sides of the structure and five short videos narrated by Dr. Preventino, our animated scholar-in-residence. The educational message visitors will receive is related to the importance of screening and how individuals can prevent colorectal cancer.
WHO:	Garden City Shopping Center will be hosting The Giant Colon, an educational initiative of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada. The mission of the CCAC is to improve the quality of life of patients and increase awareness of the disease. Our activities focus on Awareness and Education including cancer prevention, support programs for patients and their families, advocacy initiatives for provincial screening programs and equal and timely access to effective treatments to improve patient outcome. The Province of Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba and the Canadian Cancer Society Manitoba Division have all joined forces with the CCAC with the objective of teaching Canadians that Colorectal Cancer is “Preventable, Treatable & Beatable.”
WHEN:	Thursday September 2^nd & Friday September 3^rd 9:30am-9pm, Saturday September 4^th 9:30am-6pm & Sunday September 5^th 12pm-5pm.
WHERE:	Garden City Shopping Center 2305 McPhillips Street Winnipeg, Manitoba
WHY:	Colorectal cancer - cancer of the colon or rectum – is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada. The disease surpasses both breast and prostate cancer in mortality. An estimated 22,500 Canadians will be diagnosed with the disease this year and approximately 9,100 are expected to die from it. One in 14 men and one in 16 women are expected to develop the disease during their lifetime. One in 28 men and one in 31 women will die from it. The disease is preventable through screening and if detected early, it can be treated successfully 90 % of the time. The CCAC encourages cancer prevention through awareness and education, healthy lifestyles (diet and physical activity) and population-based screening.

The CCAC is grateful to its many local Sponsors across the country and to Sanofi Aventis as the Giant Colon’s National Lead Sponsor.National Lead Sponsor.

Formal Launch – Ribbon Cutting & Photo Opportunity

Launch Ceremony will commence at 10:30am Thursday September 2^nd 2010

Master of Ceremonies (MC) – Sid Chapnick

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Barry D. Stein -- President and CEO - The Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC).

Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross -- Representing the province of Manitoba and Minister Oswald

Jean Sander -- Program Manager, ColonCheck Manitoba - CancerCare Manitoba

Gord Steeves -- Acting Deputy Mayor of Winnipeg

Linda Venus -- Senior Director, Public Affairs & Cancer Control – The Canadian Cancer Society Manitoba Division

After the guest speakers have spoken, the MC will direct them to the entrance of the exhibit for a formal ribbon cutting ceremony and photo opportunity.

For further information: