Getting Started
Start Small
Start by distributing informative brochures or information sheets about colon cancer to doctor's offices, pharmacies, clinics and health clubs.
Contact a local health department and ask about any scheduled health fairs. Set up colon cancer awareness booth. (see "Booths" below) Contact the local American Cancer Society division in your area. Ask about updates on what they are currently doing. Ask if there is a Colorectal Cancer Task Force in your area.
Get Support From A Doctor Or Health Care Provider
Ask a doctor you know personally or write letters to area doctors asking if he or she would be willing to help you bring colorectal cancer awareness to your community. Ask if they would be available for TV or radio interviews Ask if they would be interested in speaking at local organizations or conferences. Getting a doctor to agree to help is a big step toward other opportunities for awareness. I have known several physicians who were more than eager to help. They were always available for interviews.
Colon Cancer Information Booths
At some health fairs or conferences, tables are readily available. Sometimes you may have to bring a card table. I have purchased and made different display boards. Bulletin boards can be used or cardboard display boards may be purchased. Have plenty of colon cancer brochures. These can be obtained free at the Colon Cancer Alliance web site and various other web sites such as the American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org
, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorctl/index.htm#awareness
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
www.preventcancer.org
I like to have a photo of my father at my booth. Locally, people recognize him and it touches them to see how I became involved in this cause. A diagram of the colon is a good idea. I often have a map of my state and area showing the incidence of colorectal cancer. People like give aways and free items. I have also used a donated gift certificate or small item at health fairs for a door prize. Have business cards available with your information on it.
You can also contact your local hospital and ask if there is an area at the hospital to put up a colon cancer awareness display. Sometimes just a plain bulletin board is good with as much information you can jam on it. Make it attractive. Add color to catch the visitors' eye.
Local organizations and churches
This is my favorite part of being a Voices Coordinator.
Speaking at local organizations is a great way to introduce yourself and your Voices chapter to area citizens. You can have brochures available and speak about your experience with colorectal cancer. Explain the importance about screening and some basic facts about this type of cancer. Most organizations don't need a long speech. Ask the doctor I mentioned above to join you and share the time. He can speak about the medical aspects of it and you can speak about your personal experience.
To get a list of organizations, you can visit your Chamber of Commerce or call City Hall.
Media
Whether it's an event you are promoting or just trying to bring attention that March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, you need to contact radio stations, television stations and the newspaper. Typing up a Press Release to mail or fail each media outlet is a good idea. They sometimes will ask if you have one.
Radio
Mid February, call the station and ask if they have a talk show and if they are planning on doing anything in March for National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. When March is a week away, send the media an "information packet" with CCA brochures and information sheets about colon cancer. Follow up with phone calls. Always get a contact name. Let them know you know of a doctor who will give interviews. If you feel up to it, offer to be interviewed yourself, to tell your personal experience.
Ask to talk to someone about making a Public Service Announcement that would be run the minth of March. They are usually free. If you don't feel comfortable being recorded. Ask if they would or someone you know.
Newspapers
Like radio stations, ask to talk to an editor. You might be directed to the Health Editor. Ask if they are planning on doing a feature about colon cancer in the month of March. Explain why it is important that colorectal cancer need s media coverage. If comfortable, offer yourself to be interviewed. Tell your story and why you are involved. Mention that you have a doctor that has already agreed to be interviewed. Some papers want to interview a colon cancer survivor. If you are not a survivor, and you know of someone who has been diagnosed, tell the editor you will get back to them about that. DO NOT mention any names until you have permission. My father did not want to be interviewed. There were times where I did an event involving a hospital and they were able to get a survivor interview for the paper.
Television
Call the stations in February. Let them know March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and explain why media coverage is important. Ask if they were planning on doing anything. Mention any events you have scheduled for the month. Tell them you will send an information packet (CCA brochures, fact sheets). Follow up with a phone call a week after you send the packet. Get contact names. Mention you have a doctor in mid that has already agreed to be interviewed. If comfortable, offer to tell your story. Don't be surprised that when you see the finished product, they have edited a lot of your interview to just seconds. It would also be a good time to talk about making a Public Service Announcement. It never hurts to ask.
Awareness Events
The most common question I get asked is, "How do I start a fund-raising/awareness event?". Believe me, I often asked myself that question. I was also scared and worried about making it successful, costs, promoting, etc, etc. I also told myself at each event, big or small, "If this does not work, that's OK. I will either change what I did or not repeat it and try something else. I need to TRY" We don't know how something will work until we take that chance and try. Each fund-raiser/awareness event has been a learning experience for me. Yes, it is work and there are some worries. But when it's all done and you had a successful event (big or small) it is all worth it! I love it when people come up to me and say "Thank You" for my efforts at colon cancer awareness or "That was a great show. I hope you will do it again." Or even better, "After hearing you on the radio so much, I finally got scheduled for my colonoscopy." That is the best reward from all this.
Count Down To March
This was an easy and no cost fund-raiser. I called our local Junior High School prinicpal and asked if the students could participate. I got coffee cans, put labels on them and get classroom got one. For the whole month of February the students brought in change. On March 1st the change was tallied up. The class with the highest amount won a pizza and pop party. Second place won donuts and chocolate milk. It was fun and we raised $806.29!
Work Related Ideas
There are all sorts of fun fund-raising ideas that can be done in the work place.
1) Putt-Putt Golf: set up a little golf course in the lounge and have your co-workers pay to play. For the lowest you could have a prize of something donated. I got indoor ball traps and got some dowels to make flags. Use your imagination!
2) Pass an usual or weird-looking item from desk to desk. Co-workers pass this ugly or strange item around by placing a dollar in a little pouch or sack attached. They will want to pay to get it off their desks!
3) "Pay $5 to Wear Jeans Day!" Co-workers pay you $5 to be able to wear jeans or casual clothes.
Raffles
First you may want to find out if you state requires a Gambling License for raffles. Some do and require a small fee and a form to be filled out. Approach your local businesses and ask for donations. If the raffle is connected to an event, let the donor know that you will be posting their business name either at the event or on a flier. That's a little advertising for them.
Voices Of Iowa Variety Show
This is a fun fund-raiser and great awareness project. I use this great opportunity to get on stage before the show starts to talk to the audience about colorectal cancer. I let them know that they will greatly reduce their odd of getting colon cancer with proper screening and to not be embarrassed to talk about it. I encourage them to talk to family members and their health care providers.
It helps to have people who can help you run errands. There are some costs: Venue rental, printing of programs, tickets and fliers, advertising and food if refreshments will be sold. Try getting as much as you can donated to reduce cost. My rule: It never hurts to ask. All the businesses that donated were listed in my programs. I am fortunate that an old historical theater in town has the option of paying prior to an event or after. Advertising on the radio, in newspapers and on TV are costly. I have a friend who will donate her time to making a commercial for me. Radio time is small, and sometimes just an announcement read is enough. I have had a performer sing a little while I talk. The newspapers usually make a nice eye catching ad.
Ask a printing shop if they will donate printing costs.
Some of the costs were paid for by fund-raising. Such as raffle or the Fish and Flamingo project.
I usually start by letting friends and family know I am looking for talent. There is always someone who knows people who are singers or dancers or play an instrument. I call up the dance studios and they are always eager to send a group. When you talk to the talent to ask if they will perform, let them know that it is a fund-raiser and that they will be donating their time and energy.
After getting the talent, I start making out the programs, lining up the acts. I usually have the smallest children on first. And I alternate the singing, dancing and performances so there is always a variety.
If there is a raffle, I sometimes throw in the raffle winners names, too. People love to win things!
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