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Philly's 'Get Your Rear in Gear' Registration Booming

    --  Region's premiere event during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness
        Month
    --  New award to be presented at this year's event
    --  New 10K added to 5K Run/Walk for colon cancer fuels registration boom
    --  Mayor Michael Nutter and former Philadelphia Eagle and colon cancer
        survivor Vince Papale will be at event
    --  Register at
        http://www.getyourrearingear.com/events/list/2011/philadelphia-pa/

The Greater Philadelphia Region is looking forward to more than twice the attendance at Philadelphia's third annual Get Your Rear In Gear, presented by the Stop Colon Cancer Now Campaign, new 10K and 5K Run/Walk to be held in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Martin Luther King Drive (AKA West River Drive) on Sunday, March 20, 2011. To date, more than 2,000 participants are registered and the number is growing daily.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110312/DC64112-a )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110312/DC64112LOGO-b )

Organized by Mount Laurel, NJ resident and PCVB Sales Director Maria Grasso, this annual event is part of awareness and fund-raising efforts during March, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Both survivors and those lost to colorectal cancer will be honored. Grasso lost her own father and grandfather to the disease and hopes that more people will get the message how early detection can make a difference in survival.

"Statistics tell us that more than 150,000 are diagnosed every year and 50,000 do not survive," said Grasso. "Many of those people are from this region. We want to change those numbers."

Stop Colon Cancer Now, a community of 200 outpatient surgery centers and more than 700 physicians specializing in digestive tract treatment, including the prevention of colon cancer, also returns as presenting sponsor. The centers are affiliated with AmSurg Corporation, America's leader in specialized outpatient surgery centers.

At the event, those visiting the StopColonCancerNow.com tent to talk with doctors of Main Line Endoscopy Center West and Main Line Endoscopy Center South to get answers to questions about digestive health, colon cancer risk factors and the importance of screening. Visitors to the tent will be invited to schedule their screening. StopColonCancerNow.com has a goal of scheduling 100 at risk individuals for screening during the race. Former Philadelphia Eagle and colon cancer survivor Vince Papale will also be at the tent from 7:30-11:30 a.m.

The American Cancer Society will also host a Survivorship and Education Tent on site with special activities to honor survivors.

When Grasso began planning the event in 2009, she worked with the National Colon Cancer Coalition that oversees similar events in other cities. She, at best, expected a hundred people to show up for a first time race. This year, due to popular demand, GYRIG added a 10K component to its tradition 5K Walk/Run.

"The inaugural event built the foundation for continued and growing success," she said. "Our sponsors and the many survivors, caregivers, families and friends of people affected by colon cancer continue to encourage participation. The 10K has attracted a whole new level of participant and this year's numbers are growing fast! To date, registration numbers are more than twice what they were at this time last year.

"The number of people affected by this disease is astounding," said Grasso. "And, while we have not eliminated colon cancer, we have certainly worked toward eliminating much of the suffering, thanks to awareness that leads to earlier and earlier detection."

Get Your Rear in Gear Philadelphia's Honorary Chair, Mayor Michael Nutter, will welcome sponsors, runners, walkers, and event participants on Sunday and join NBC 10's Terry Ruggles, also a cancer survivor, to kick off the race.

For more information, visit www.getyourrearingear.com

    Media Event/Sponsor
     Reception:
    -------------------
    Date:                      Wednesday, March 16, 2011
    Location:                  Hyatt Penn's Landing, Columbus Blvd.
    Time:                      5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (ideal time 6:15 p.m.)
                                Mayor Michael Nutter, Event Honorary Chair
    Special Guests:             (invited)
                               Terry Ruggles, NBC-10
                               Dr. Richard Pestel, Kimmel Cancer Center
                               Dr. Scott Goldstein, Colorectal Surgery, TJUH
                                Kyle Rosenberg, age 14, Recipient of the first
                                Maude Daniels Award
    Race Event Details:
    -------------------
    Date:                      Sunday, March 20, 2011
                                Philadelphia Museum of Art & ML King, Jr.
    Location                    Drive
    Registration               7:30 am
    Tony's Trot for Kids Fun
     Run                       9:00 am
    *10 K and 5K Timed Run     9:30 am
    2-Mile Remembrance Walk    9:45 am
    Awards Ceremony            10:30 am

(*This is a USA Track & Field Certified Course for runners.)

    --  Proceeds from the event will help raise awareness and funds for colon
        cancer.  Event registration is $25 (until March 15) and $30 (after March
        15). Mayor Michael Nutter is the event Honorary Chair.
    --  Awards will be given for the top overall male and female run finishers,
        multiple age categories in the 10 K and 5K, and to the Largest
        Registered Team, the Top Fundraising Team and the Top Fundraising
        Individual.
    --  A new award titled the Maude Daniels Award, named after New Jersey
        resident Maude Daniels who succumbed to colon cancer last year at age 97
    --  In addition to the new 10K and traditional 5K, the Get Your Rear in Gear
        Philadelphia event will feature the third annual Tony's Trot for Kids
        Fun Run, honoring the memory of former White House Press Secretary Tony
        Snow.  Tony Snow lost his battle to colon cancer in July, 2008, and his
        family will be at the event to present the youth participants with
        special medals.
    --  Every year, colon cancer kills more than 50,000 Americans - 43 percent
        of those diagnosed. Remarkably, as the second largest cancer killer, the
        disease is preventable with early screenings and treatable if caught in
        the early stages.
    --  For more information, to make a donation, or to register for the Get
        Your Rear in Gear Philadelphia 10K or 5K Run/Walk, visit
        http://www.getyourrearingear.com/events/list/2011/philadelphia-pa/

    MEDIA CONTACTS:
    Bonnie Grant, 215-290-0382, bonmiksha@aol.com
    Maria Grasso, 856-371-9238, mariagrasso@getyourrearingear.com
    Liz Sullivan, 484-213-7436, lizs@pcvb.org

SOURCE Get Your Rear in Gear Philadelphia