Well, numbers from the American Cancer
Society, they spell out the troubling trend
when it comes to colorectal cancer cases.
And people under 50, they have n
climbing steadily for years ande
are dying from that disease each year.
Well, now one local organizatios
working to spread awareness with their
third annual charity Golf Class,
and that's happening on Monday.
So joining us to talk details.
Are Eric Lecompte and Antonio Dionizio,
founders of Champions for Colorectal cancer?
Guys, thank you so much for
being here this morning.
Really appreciate it, Angela.
Appreciate you.
See you guys. Yeah.
So we did a story about this troubling rise
that we're seeing just a few days ago.
Learned a lot myself about this.
You guys are doing awesome work.
Tell us about the organization.
Give us your stories.
Why are you doing this?
Sure. So we were founded in in .
It was a way for us to raise awareness
in the younger generation on the
importance of early detection.
And ultimately, the sooner you get tested,
the more you become aware of the
risk factors that are involved.
But this is one of those diseass
that if you catch it soon enoug,
your outcomes will substantially
get a lot better.
So ultimately what we do is we try to
educate the younger generations on the
importance of getting tested ea.
Those families who have been negatively
impacted by colon cancer alread,
we do a lot of advocacy for the,
help their families through it,
help them through it.
But as well,
we of course try to raise awares
throughout the rest of the couny
by way of legislature as well.
So, you know,
trying to get ages reduced down,
which is one thing that we've hn
impact on for testing the age tt
doctors recommended getting tes.
For colon cancer was 50 and now
it's been reduced down to 45.
So again the more education that we can,
we can raise and more education
that we can drive that I think e
better outcomes will have for fs
absolutely and Antonio.
Talk about the reality of the situation.
At 20-30, you don't expect to
be talking about the C word,
but that is the case with colorl
cancer for some people, right?
Absolutely. So we've been noticg
A trend and by 20-30 it's going
to be the leading cause of cancr
deaths for those under the age of 50.
So we've been pushing to to make that change.
We've met with legislators.
We do an event with a national organization
called Fight CRC where we went n
as DC in March during colon can.
Of awareness month and we,
you know, we met with legislato,
we've been meeting with local Connecticut
legislators to also increase acs
to healthcare and screenings bee
we know that's so important to e
sure that people get it caught y
and as you spread awareness,
also looking to have some fun as
well make this exciting for peoe
and that leads us to this golf.
Tournament on Monday.
So tell us about that. Yeah.
So it's our third annual champions for CRC,
Charity Golf Classic.
Every year we've been raising
funds to be able to, you know,
help those families in need.
We are looking to to do bigger things,
establish scholarship funds
potentially and things like tha.
But you know, every year we get about 80
to 100 golfers that come out and join us.
Every year we've been raising more and more.
I know last year we raised just over 35,000.
This year we're well on pace to outpace that.
So yeah, it's a fun day,
fun event, beautiful golf cours,
great river in Milford, CT and
else. And we have details on our website.
Tell us about the timing locati.
Again, get people to run down.
Sure. So so this coming Monday,
we'll be at Great River.
They do a tremendous job.
Obviously with the course.
We have registration that starts
at around 9:00 o'clock and
we kick off at 10:00 o'clock.
But one thing that I want to
mention is each year at this ev.
We we tell everybody about our
mission and and what we're there for.
Each year since the first
year that we've had it.
We've had individuals that heard our message,
went out, got tested,
and had they not heard our mess,
had they not gotten tested,
they themselves would be battling colon
cancer at some point during their life.
So they come back.
They thank us of course for the mission.
And hopefully that's a trickle down effect.
It's a cascade where they themss
know somebody who you know they
can advocate and and educate so
that they can get tested too.
So yeah, it's a tremendous day.
We raise a lot of money and we
have a lot of fun at the same t.
So that's our our flagship evend
we're looking to each year get a
little bit bigger and bigger and bigger.
There you go guys.
Thank you so much for being her.
Really, really appreciate it.
Thank you. Good luck on Monday.
Have fun. And I think the
weather is looking good too.