Press Releases

June 27, 2011

Denver Undy 5000 5K Draws Huge Crowd to Bring Awareness to Colon Cancer

Denver, CO (June 27) – The Colon Cancer Alliance’s Denver Undy 5000 5K run was held on Saturday, June 25 at City Park for the third year in a row.  Mayor Guillermo (Bill) Vidal was present to officially start the race, and Paul Weiss led a “moment of celebration” in memory of his wife, former Denver Councilwoman Carla Madison, who passed away from colon cancer earlier this year.  Almost 1,300 people wearing underwear, boxer shorts or silly costumes participated in the event to help bring greater awareness to colon cancer, the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in the United States.

“Denver has done it again,” said Andrew Spiegel, CEO of the Colon Cancer Alliance. “The Undy 5000 was a great success.  We had 74 survivors in attendance who were recognized for their valiant effort in beating this disease. And, to top it off, Denver supporters helped us raise more than $130,000!”

Event proceeds are used to support and build the Colon Cancer Alliance’s national and local patient support and public awareness programs. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the Denver Undy 5000 will go to the Colorado Colorectal Screening Program at the University of Colorado Cancer Center to fund services for individuals diagnosed with colon cancer.

The Undy 5000 series, created by the Colon Cancer Alliance and held in cities across the nation, is designed to promote awareness and education about colon cancer. The event stresses the importance of timely colon cancer screening, and provides valuable information for those already affected by the disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that 142,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year and almost 50,000 people will succumb to the disease. Through recommended screenings, this cancer can be caught early when treatment is most effective — or even prevented altogether when pre-cancerous polyps are detected and removed.

The maker of Dulcolax®* is the proud presenting sponsor of the 2011 Undy 5000 races. As the #1 doctor-recommended stimulant for constipation relief, Dulcolax ® reminds everyone over the age of 50 or with a family history of colon cancer, that a colonoscopy can save lives.

Additional national sponsors include the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Amgen, Genentech and Salix Pharmaceuticals. Local sponsors included Arapahoe Gastroenterology, RMGA, South Denver Gastroenterology, Diversified Radiology of Colorado, The Cancer Center Lutheran Medical Center, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Saint Joseph Hospital, Ah-Some Photography, and Tony’s Market.

More information about the Undy 5000 is available online at www.undy5000.org.

# # #

The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) is a national patient advocacy organization dedicated to ending the suffering caused by colorectal cancer. In order to increase rates of screening and survivorship, the CCA provides patient support, public education, supports research and conducts advocacy work across America.

Return to Press Releases