The first annual Denver Undy 5000 5K run was held on Saturday, June 27 at City Park. The weather was perfect, and over 1,030 people participated in the event. The event has raised over $115,000 to date, with donations still arriving.
 
The CCA would like to extend a special thanks to national sponsors Salix Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi-Aventis, Genentech, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA). Local sponsorship was provided by Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates, Arapahoe Gastroenterology, Good Belly and Exempla Lutheran Hospital. The Denver Undy 5000 5K run would not have been possible without the hard work of volunteers Serena Sampat and Brian Kothe.

One group of volunteers was especially helpful at the Denver Undy 5000.  A group of nurses from the Rocky Mountain SGNA worked the registration tables at the event.  In addition to providing much needed practical help on race day, having local nurses involved will impact patient care in the Denver area.  Their willingness to help spread the word prior to the race as well as educating the public was very important to the success of the race.  The nurses were reminded of the importance of colorectal cancer screening and they took the job to heart about educating the public.  Another benefit to their involvement is that these nurses experienced, first hand, one of the few public events for anyone affected by colorectal cancer.  With so few public events designated for anyone affected by colorectal cancer, the RMSGNA members can now enthusiastically recommend the event to appropriate patients.

The Colorado Colorectal Screening Program, the local partner who will receive a portion of the proceeds, debuted a short educational video about colorectal cancer screening. The video, "Your Colon and You:  Getting to the Bottom of It," is available for viewing online.  This program assists low income individuals in CO get the appropriate screening and thus helps prevent cancer or catch it early.

The event in general was a huge success.  It educated the public.  It raised awareness and it got people talking.  Although this is the first of many to come, the race encountered huge success from the beginning due to its message, its volunteers and its importance.  Let’s all continue to come together to decrease colorectal cancer and save lives!