Fight Colorectal Cancer Thanks President Obama for Presidential Proclamation

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - March 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month got off to a great start with a Presidential Proclamation from the White House. On Feb. 28, President Obama issued a statement recognizing March 2014 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

President Obama’s proclamation is the first in over a decade. President Clinton issued the first proclamation recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in 2000. The last proclamation spotlighting colorectal cancer was in 2003 by President George W. Bush.

“It’s been over 10 years since colorectal cancer received this level of support from the White House,” said Anjee Davis, Interim Executive Director of Fight Colorectal Cancer. “We are proud of our advocates, our members of Congress and our partners in the colorectal cancer community who worked for this proclamation.”

Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. led the charge on the proclamation, issuing a letter to President Obama in Dec. 2013 co-signed by 146 other members of Congress, asking for recognition of the number two cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Rep. Payne, who lost his father to the disease in 2012, advocates for screening and prevention.

“Through education and awareness, we can erase the myths, stigma and embarrassment that are sometimes associated with colorectal cancer and screening, and we can remind the American public about healthy lifestyles that reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and other diseases,” wrote Payne.

Fight Colorectal Cancer sent a subsequent letter to President Obama following Payne’s letter in January 2014 co-signed by many member organizations of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable.

"We're appreciative to Fight Colorectal Cancer and to all the organizations from the colorectal cancer community who contributed to this effort to elevate our cause" said Mary Doroshenk, Director of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. "We're grateful for the president's support and the emphasis the proclamation will give to colorectal cancer awareness and education."

View the White House press release: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/28/pre...

View Rep. Payne's statement applauding the White House: http://payne.house.gov/press-release/payne-applauds-presi...

About Fight Colorectal Cancer

Fight Colorectal Cancer is a leading colorectal cancer nonprofit in Washington, D.C. Through patient education, advocacy and research funding the group spreads awareness and demands a cure for the second-leading killer in the United States. As the leading advocacy group, the organization serves as a resource for colorectal cancer patients, grassroots advocates, policy makers, medical professionals and health care providers. Learn more at http://www.FightColorectalCancer.org.