Danielle Ripley-Burgess is a two-time colon cancer survivor first diagnosed at age 17. She has Lynch syndrome and is currently in remission. She works as the Director of Communications for Fight Colorectal Cancer. 

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is like a second holiday season for me and my colleagues at Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC). And it’s not just because I’m a colon cancer survivor (although all of the blue does add special meaning for me).

I love it when the big cancer spotlight turns on colorectal cancer and the world starts seeing what we think about and work on all year long.

The stories of strong survivors. The passion of researchers and doctors. The quest to find and remove polyps before they become cancer. The information about prevention with the hopes that someone’s life will be spared a cancer diagnosis.

It’s what we live for, it’s what I love, and March is when it all comes together.

Kicking off March 2017

As March 2017 nears, I’m very excited that our team at Fight CRC is partnering with NCCRT, the American Cancer Society, Mayo Clinic and Exact Sciences to present the Countdown to 2018 – an event that will broadcast from Times Square the afternoon of March 1.
Together as a nation we’ll come together and commit to seeing fewer cancer cases and more screenings. The live broadcast is sure to inspire and encourage. To register and for details, go to CRCcountown.org.

Share your Screening Story!

In addition to our live broadcast, we’re launching a social media project for March called Screening Stories. We want to take away the mystery about screening! We know those who have not been screened may be afraid of the test itself or may not appreciate the life-saving potential of screening. Hearing from you about screening success stories can help! The best way to do that? Social media, of course!

If you’re in the fight against colorectal cancer, join us in March and make plans to post a Screening Story.

Here’s how to participate:

HOW TO SUBMIT A STORY

Starting now and throughout March, please share your screening stories on social media. Organizations can also participate by sharing any public service announcements that they have created that talk about the benefits of screening. We’ll choose some to highlight in the lead up to our Countdown to 2018 live stream that we’re broadcasting to hundreds of thousands of followers!

Here’s how to share your screening story:

1. Come up with your story idea. Ideas:

• What led you (or a patient) to get screened
• How screening saved your life, or someone else’s life
• Tips for getting screened
• Explain your role in prevention
• Successes in your state, region or organization
• Use an existing video or public service announcement if you or your organization has one!

2. Decide how to tell your story on social media. Ideas:

• Write a blog post (If you want to guest blog for Fight CRC contact us!)
• Make a video and post it on YouTube or use an existing video or public service announcement
• Do a Facebook Live or Periscope video
• Post a series of photos on Instagram or go live

3. Share and hashtag your story

• Share your story or public service announcement on social media – we recommend Facebook and Twitter!
• Hashtag your post with #80by2018 and #ScreeningStory
• Search for other posts with the hashtag and share

We’ll be watching for your screening stories! Let’s create conversations and save lives together!

4. Spread the Word about March 1

On March 1 celebrities, experts and survivors will kick off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month during the Countdown to 2018. We have one year left to reach our goals and see 80% of people screened by 2018!

To let people know to tune in, please add this call-to-action to the end of your story if you post before March 1:

Don’t miss it! Tune in on March 1 to watch the nation kick off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month from Times Square! Get details: CRCcountdown.org

5. Be part of the chorus!
Additionally, Stand Up To Cancer co-founder, Katie Couric, will be posting a celebrity “get screened” video-of-the-day throughout March on Instagram. At the same time, this content will be available on SU2C’s YouTube channel.

We’re fortunate there are more than 31 of these videos, so during the month, others will be posted at SU2C’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels.

We’re looking forward to you following and sharing these celebrity “get screened” videos on social media all month-long for important colon cancer screening info.

Share Your Screening Story is a great way for us to join in this March chorus about the life saving benefit of screening and ensure that our families and friends can’t miss this message during the month of March.

Saving Lives One Screening at a Time

This March, I will be one of the over 1 million survivors posting about screening in hopes that others won’t face the same diagnosis I did. I hope you’ll join us and do the same. I’ve got my blue out and my stories ready, and I am ready to ring in another March and celebrate Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month!