He as also been chosen as “Mr. March” for the 2012 Colondar, created and sold by GYRIG partner, The Colon Club. (Sidebar: We have to take some undeserved credit for Roger being chosen, after all we’ve known he was the model type for a long time, as he has been featured on our Facebook profile picture several times in the past year-or-so.)

An article by Mike Baird of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times recently featured Roger’s story about overcoming a cancer diagnosis with a healthy lifestyle, and proudly sharing his involvement with Get Your Rear in Gear. Read his story, then head over the The Colon Club to order your Colondar.

“My son told me that cancer changed my life,” Rojas said. “And he’s right, but not in the way some people might think. It made me stop and look at my life, and now I live a better life than I was living.”

- Roger Rojas, as told to Mike Baird, of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Photo by Michael Zamora, Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Read the story en Espanol.

Final tallies from Boston are still coming in, but it looks as though over 1,300 people participated in the inaugural event, raising over $100,000.

From WickedLocal.com – Halifax Bulletin Board, November 11, 2011

Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Race for Colon Cancer

Brian Shelly and Caitlin Gambee at packet pick-up before the Boston Get Your Rear in Gear

The Colon Cancer Coalition announces the inaugural Get Your Rear in Gear 5K race supporting colon cancer in Massachusetts. Sister duo, Caitlin and Maggie Gambee both in their 20s initiated the event in honor of their father who passed away from the disease at the age of 41.

In its first year, the event has already broken fundraising expectations raising over $54,000 for the cause and currently registering over 600 participants.

The Gambee sisters along with event co-chair Brian Shelly aim to spread the message of early detection through the ‘Boston, Get Your Rear in Gear 5K’ to be held at South Boston’s Castle Island Saturday, Nov. 12. Proceeds from the event will go to support local awareness, screening, healthy living programs.

“I am proud to be involved with the Get Your Rear in Gear Events,” Shelly said. “As the number two cancer killer, Boston should not go one year longer without creating an event that helps those battling colon cancer and offers them a network of support.” Shelly’s involvement stems from his brother in law’s diagnosis at age 35, which is now in remission.

Also on board for the race is colon cancer survivor and star of ABC’s Boston Med, Tom Alden whose story went live on air last year broadcasting to the nation everything from his diagnosis to his incredible recovery. From that point on, Alden has been active within the coalition as an advocate for prevention.

Funds raised at Get Your Rear in Gear events across the country stay in the local communities to further awareness of the disease and bring screening opportunities to those who are under-insured or uninsured. The money is distributed through grants from the Colon Cancer Coalition, the business arm of Get Your Rear in Gear.

To learn more about the race, visit www.getyourrearingear.com/events/list/2011/boston-ma or to read the event blog visit bostongyrig.tumblr.com.

Photo by Carly Bish, of Carly Bish Photography - CarlyBish.com

Team Kickin’ the Stick out of Colon Cancer created in honor  of Katie Tinnea was featured in the Newcastle News in advance of the Seattle Area Get Your Rear in Gear race.  The Seattle Area event is being held Sunday, November 6 at Brooks Sports, Inc in Bothell, WA.

Read this inspiring story of Mrs. Tinnea, a first grade teacher at Newcastle Elementary School and why she has chosen to continue teaching through her treatment.

UPDATE (Nov. 9, 2011): The reporter, Christina Lords, who first wrote Katie Tinnea’s story wrote a nice follow-up and relection of her thoughts upon meeting and interviewing this inspiring women.

Every time I find myself feeling down about a situation or problem, I think about Katie’s optimism and the power of positive thought. Her smile is infectious; her outlook on life is nothing short of remarkable.

She’s a woman not only dealing with the everyday stresses of being a teacher, a mother, a wife — things we all face — but she’s a woman living a life full of joy, hope and faith in defiance of a disease with no cure.

All she wants out of life is life itself.

That’s a lesson we can all learn.

- From “Off the Press – Life Lessons Taught by Tinnea” by Christina Lords, Issaquah Press, November 8, 2011

You can read a recap of the race on DecorahNews.com.

Northeast Iowa Crew

On August 25, the Muscatine Journal published the story behind the event.

The Fessler Family in 2007.

The bottom line: Get checked for colon cancer

Cynthia Beaudette | Posted: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 8:51 pm

•  Muscatine family holds fundraiser to honor mom and wife, and raise awareness of colon cancer

MUSCATINE, Iowa —As residents get their rears in gear for a fundraiser to help battle cancer, organizers are remembering the woman who inspired the event — and who’d be helping with it if she were here today.

“If Ellen was still here, she’d love the chance to help someone else, even if she was still fighting the disease herself. That’s just the way she was,” said Bryan Fessler of Muscatine.

Bryan’s wife, Ellen, died of colon cancer in 2009. This year, her family is helping organize a fundraiser to battle colon cancer.

The Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Run/Walk for Cancer takes place Saturday Sept. 17, two days before the second anniversary of Ellen’s death. Ellen was a Muscatine wife and mother, physical education teacher and community volunteer who died of colon cancer in 2009 when she was 50.

“I planned this event to coincide with the anniversary of her passing, furthering her tie to the event,” said Bryan.

Bryan, 51, said he and Ellen’s children, Jared and Jenna Fessler, hope to help others fight colon cancer.

“I attended a Get Your Rear in Gear event in Des Moines last year,” said Bryan. “Seven members of my family participated and it seemed like something we could do here.”

Seventy-five percent of the funds raised after expenses will go to Trinity Muscatine Hospital for people who cannot afford a colonoscopy, which can  detect colon cancer at a treatable stage.

Some of the remaining funds will go to the Colon Cancer Coalition for research and to provide medical care for people diagnosed with the disease.

The Coalition also exists to make the public aware that colon cancer is treatable in its early stages and to encourage people to live healthy lifestyles, said Bryan Fessler.

“If we can help one person, any amount of effort is worthwhile,” said Bryan.

Bryan said when he had a  colonoscopy done, he had concerns about modesty and the fear that his doctor might find something.

“Pride and modesty are the biggest hang-ups,” said Fessler, whose colonoscopy came back clear. “The bottom line is, go get screened.”

Jenna Fessler, 21, is studying at Iowa State University in Ames and wasn’t able  to help organize the event, but she is excited about the work her dad and brother are doing to make it successful.

“Because of our story with my mom, my dad has so much passion and drive to help others in our community,” said Jenna Fessler. “I know my mom would be really proud of my dad and what he’s been doing to help others and to prevent future patients and their families from going through what we did.”

Jared Fessler, 24, who holds a bachelor of arts degree in communications and public relations from the University of Northern Iowa, works on event publicity.

“People are really excited about it,” he said. “With my mom being a teacher and involved in education, this is one of those things we can do to give back to the community.”

Giving back to a community that comforted and cared for his family is a big part of the event, said Bryan.

“Always, something good comes out of something bad,” he said. “And this community was so great to us.”

Julie Somora on FOX 4

Julie Somora captained Team Somora in honor of her husband Andrew at the inaugural Get Your Rear in Gear Kansas City event on July 9, 2011. Andrew has been battling colon cancer for the past year. To help promote the event, Julie agreed to be interviewed by the local FOX affiliate the day before.

See Julie’s interview here or watch below.

Special thank yous to Get Your Rear in Gear sponsor Stop Colon Cancer Now for their help arranging this story and to Meaghan and Sarah at KDAF TV / FOX 4 in Kansas City for helping us get access to posting the story.

A live interview with ABC7 News in Chicago was already scheduled for Sunday morning, the weather didn’t allow for a live video feed, but the station did still give Celeste Hayward, co-chair of the Tinley Park race, the chance to share her story and the importance of colon cancer education and screening. See the full interview below.

The Tinley Park event also got some great coverage from the Tinley Park edition of the TribLocal.

Despite the weather, the event was still a resounding success.  As reported in the TribLocal:

[Hayward] estimated the event would have had about 450 participants if it wasn’t for the weather, including those who wanted to register as the storm got started Sunday.

“It was raining and people were walking up wanting to register and donate,” Hayward said. “It was awesome.”

While the event didn’t go off as planned, Get Your Rear In Gear still collected more than $18,000 in donations, plus the $25 registration fee from each participant, Hayward said.

“From a fundraising standpoint, it was extremely successful,” she said.

Congratulations to Celeste Hayward and Mary Hannon on organizing a great event.  Unfortunately the one thing that can’t be controlled is the one thing that went wrong.  Thank you to everyone involved for the hard work that went into the weekend.  From committee members, team captains, individual and team fundraisers, to volunteers and participants.

Mark your calendar now and plan to attend the third annual Get Your Rear in Gear Tinley Park on July 22, 2012.

In an email to Get Your Rear in Gear, event chair Bryan Fessler described why he decided to bring the event to River City:

I choose to start Get Your Rear in Gear River City, Ia, after myself and six other members of my family participated in the Des Moines event in Oct. 2010. This also is a way for me to pay forward the kindness and support shown to my family during my wife’s eight-year battle with colon cancer. This community was so supportive during her illness as well as for the nearly two years since her death. I chose the event date to coincide with the anniversary date of her passing (9-19-09).

Bryan plans to use the money raised at the River City race to used to partner with Trinity Regional Health System in Muscatine to provide financial assistance with screenings.

Putting the rears in motion: Muscatine man hopes people can help honor his late wife and fight colon cancer, too

Cynthia Beaudette | Posted: Thursday, July 7, 2011 10:09 pm

MUSCATINE, Iowa —  Muscatine-area residents can start getting their “rears in gear,” for a first-time local fundraiser.

Donations and registrations for the Get Your Rear in Gear 5 K Run/Walk for Colon Cancer are now being accepted, said event organizer Bryan Fessler of Muscatine. The event will be held Saturday, Sept. 17. Registration is at 7:15 a.m.and the walk begins at 8:30 a.m.

Get Your Rear In Gear events are part of the non-profit Colon Cancer Coalition’s national campaign to raise funds for and awareness of colon cancer.

The local event will take place at Discovery Park, 3300 Cedar St., in honor of Fessler’s wife, the late Ellen Fessler, who died from colon cancer in 2009 at age 50, after an eight-year battle with the disease.

Bryan Fessler, 51, said proceeds from the event will help local residents who need help paying for colonoscopies, a test that can detect colon cancer at the early and most treatable stages.

Registration forms are available at www.getyourrearingear.com/ at the “River City IA 2011” link in the far right column of the homepage.

Paper registrations will also be available beginning next week at Muscatine-area agencies and businesses, said Fessler.

Walgreens in Muscatine along with other area Walgreens are also selling $1 tags which will be displayed in the store with donors’ names, said Fessler.

J.R. Harlen (in red) with his family at packet pick-up for the 2011 Get Your Rear in Gear Indianpolis race.

J.R. Harlen is a nine-year colon cancer survivor from Indiana. On Saturday, June 18, Father’s Day weekend 2011, he and his family participated in the 2011 Get Your Rear in Gear Indianapolis event. J.R. has a family history of colon cancer, losing his mother and several other relatives to this disease.

On Thursday, June 16, the Bloomington Herald Times published this story about J.R.’s continuing fight with colon cancer, his commitment to his family and positive outlook through it all.

Story published June 16, 2011 by:

Bloomington Herald Times / HeraldTimesOnline.com

‘Superman’ fighting for every day
By Dann Denny
331-4350 | ddenny@heraldt.com

J.R. Harlan is a fighter.

But the 31-year-old Ellettsville man is also a realist.

He knows the battle he’s waging against colon and lung cancer is one he will not ultimately win.

But Harlan wants to stick around as long as he can for the sake of his wife, Angela, and their 7-year-old twin daughters, Alyssa and Brianne.

“I try to cherish every day I have with them,” he said. “I try not to take for granted a single moment.”

Not long ago, thanks largely to financial help from the Jack and Jill Foundation and the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Bloomington, the Harlan family spent a week in Orlando — enjoying Universal Studios, Sea World and Disney World.

“It was an absolute blast,” Harlan said. “It went by so fast.”

On the final day at Disney World, Harlan and Angela pulled back the curtain on a secret they’d been keeping from their daughters all week. They had paid for the girls to be princesses for a day — in which the youngsters got to dress up in authentic princess garb, eat a special princess dinner and stroll around the park being addressed by others as “Your Majesty.”

“The girls were in Seventh Heaven,” Harlan said. “The look on their faces was priceless. The reality of my situation is that seeing them all dolled up like that may have been — for me — their prom and wedding all rolled into one.”

Superman
Angela calls Harlan “Superman” because of the strength and courage he’s displayed since being diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2002.

Angela persuaded a friend to design a Superman logo with “J.R.” in the center instead of an “S.” She then asked My Sports Locker to print a batch of T-shirts emblazoned with the logo.

Since then, the Harlans have sold nearly 100 T-shirts to help with his medical expenses. This Saturday, 15 to 20 of his friends and family will be wearing the shirts when they participate in a colon cancer 5K run in Carmel. Those wishing to buy a T-shirt can contact Harlan at jrharlan1@gmail.com or 320-4736.

Staying positive
In 2009, doctors found that Harlan’s colon cancer had metastasized to his pelvis. Months later, they learned it had also migrated to his lungs.

Soon thereafter, he had to quit his technician job at PTS Electronics, but he refused to become discouraged.

“You have to stay positive,” he said. “If you don’t, you’re defeated before you even start trying.”

Sandy Hahn, Harlan’s mother-in-law, has been deeply impressed by the manner in which he’s dealt with his latest setback.

“He is one brave man, and an inspiration to everyone he meets,” she said.

Harlan said his faith and family have helped keep his spirit from sinking.

“My faith has been tested, but I believe it’s stronger than it was before,” he said. “I believe there is a purpose for everything God allows to happen. I’m not saying I understand that purpose, but I believe some day I’ll be able to ask Him and He will tell me.”

Harlan was there for Angela when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2005. Now, she is there for him.

“She’s a strong lady,” he said of Angela, an office manager at Orthopedics of Southern Indiana. “Some days she is stronger than I am.”

Still standing
After undergoing an experimental treatment regimen that was not helpful, Harlan is now receiving traditional chemotherapy drugs.

“We’re not sure if this is helping,” he said. “I’ll have my last treatment June 27 and then I’ l get a CT scan to see how effective it was before deciding what our next step might be.”

Harlan’s mother died of colon cancer at age 29 and several other relatives have also succumbed to the disease.

“The doctors have said this will eventually take my life, but no one knows when that will be,” he said. “There is no date stamped on my foot.”

In the meantime, Harlan will keep fighting, and wearing his Superman T-shirt, on the back of which are these words — “Knocked Down by Cancer Three Times, but Still Standing.”

2011 Indianapolis Colon Cancer Get Your Rear in Gear
When: Saturday (registration 7 a.m.).
Where: Northview Church, 12900 Hazel Dell Parkway in Carmel.
Kids’ Fun Run: 8 a.m.
5K Run/Walk: 8:30 a.m.
Race day registration: Adults $30, children 12 and under $15.
For information, visit www.getyourrearingear.com/events/list/2011/colon-cancer-5k-run-walk-and-fundraiser-event-indianapolis-in

Colon cancer survivors at the 2011 Get Your Rear in Gear Indianapolis race.