WHAT: Eleventh Annual Get Your Rear in Gear – Twin Cities, the nation’s largest special event for colon cancer.The first Get Your Rear in Gear race was held in 2005 at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. That event spawned a movement for colon cancer awareness across the country.Today, Edina-based Colon Cancer Coalition hosts nearly 50 events across the country each year to raise money to fund awareness and increase screening for thispreventable and treatable disease.

WHO: Over 3,000 participants, volunteers and spectators

Over 60 colon cancer survivors registered

Over 130 teams

Goldy Gopher and other notable mascots

WHEN: Sunday, October 11, 2015

7 a.m. Registration Opens

7:50 a.m. Survivor and Caregiver photos at the main stage

8 a.m. Opening Ceremonies

8:45 a.m. Kids’ Fun Run

9 a.m. 5K Run/Walk

WHERE: Mall of America

East Surface Lot, Corner of 24th Ave & Old Shakopee in Bloomington, Minn.

Look for the Giant Colon!

MORE: Colon cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States, second only behind lung cancer. It is also one of the most preventable cancers as pre-cancerous growths, called polyps, can be removed during a colonoscopy before cancer has a chance to grow. Unfortunately only 71% of eligible Minnesotans are up-to-date on their colon cancer screening. This event aims to raise awareness and educate the public about the symptoms and available screening in order to decrease deaths to this disease.

About the Colon Cancer Coalition / Get Your Rear in Gear events
The Colon Cancer Coalition is a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis dedicated to raising awareness and encouraging screening for colon cancer. The organization’s signature Get Your Rear in Gear events are volunteer-driven in communities throughout the United States. By making the words colon, colorectal and colonoscopy a part of the everyday language, we believe we can overcome the fear and decrease deaths from this largely preventable cancer. For more information visit ColonCancerCoalition.org.

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Molly Mulvehill Steinke

Media Relations Director

612-309-1677

@MMSPR