With the wind blowing over 25 miles an hour and temperatures below freezing, more than 200 people came out to observe Colon Cancer Awareness Month at the 10th Annual Keep Your Colon Rollin’ 5K Walk/Run held at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum in St. Leonard. Christopher Lee, age 42, was the overall male finisher with a time of 19:47 and Kelly Kitzmiller, age 22, won the overall female finisher with a time of 23:48. Prizes were awarded the top three male and female finishers in each age group and the first person to register, Best dressed in blue, last team to finish, and all children who particpated.
Several teams ran in honor of or in memory of loved ones. Kelly Kitzmiller was running in honor of her uncle whose story is 
posted on FierceHope.com. Chip Allen and Joe Fordham, both survivors of colon cancer, had teams participating with Party Poopers and Joe vs. Cancer I’m betting on Joe! Chip shared with the crowd that he disagrees when people state someone ‘lost their battle with cancer.’ “The cancer dies too. It’s a tie and we will win!” A special tribute was paid in memory of Diana Welch from Huntingtown who claimed this event as “her race.”
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. and Maryland. People who have colon cancer may not have symptoms, or if so, may have blood in their stool, pain in the abdomen, change in their bowel habits, unexplained weight loss or iron deficiency anemia not caused by other conditions.
Screening is important because treatment is most effective when detected early. If
you are age 50 or older, have relatives who have had colorectal cancer, had ovarian or endometrial cancer before age 50, had radiation treatment in the pelvic area or diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease then you may be at risk for colon cancer. Talk to your doctor about getting screened and lower your risk by avoiding all forms of tobacco, limiting alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days a week and eating a high fiber diet.
Special thanks goes to all of the people who helped make the event a success by donating their time, service and door prizes: St. Leonard Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Brothers Johnson Septic Service, Royalle Dining Services, Walmart, Panera Bread, Dream Weaver Café, Green Turtle, Domino’s Pizza in Prince Frederick, Fortune Cookie, Stoney’s Restaurant, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Tri-County Maryland Alumnae Chapter, Top Hat Party Design, Giant Food in Prince Frederick, Ad Options, Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum staff, Calvert County Health Department staff, Calvert Memorial Hospital KeepWell, Calvert County Highway
Maintenance and Parks & Recreation, Keith Wood Painting, Julie Allen, and our many volunteers and participants!
This year’s race proceeds benefit Calvert Memorial Hospital Foundation to assist with resources for colon cancer screening and treatment. Take the time to get screened. Colon cancer can be Preventable, Treatable, Beatable! For more information on colorectal cancer, contact the Calvert County Health Department’s Colorectal Cancer Screening Program at 410-535-5400, ext. 348.
Margit Miller / Calvert Beacon