Friday, March 06, 2009

Dress in Blue Day

When is Dress in Blue Day?
It is celebrated on the first Friday of March. In 2009, Dress in Blue Day will be held on Friday, March 6th.

What is the purpose of Dress in Blue Day?
The purpose of Dress in Blue Day is to promote awareness about colorectal cancer and encourage people to get screened.

Why do we need to raise awareness of Colorectal Cancer?
Because: Colorectal cancer is the #2 cause of death in the U.S.
This year in the United States, colorectal cancer will kill as many people as breast cancer and AIDS combined.

Over 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year.
Colorectal cancer often has no symptom at all until it’s at an advanced stage.
Colorectal cancer is 90% preventable when detected early.
You can reduce your risk through regular screening.
Beginning at age 50 (or earlier if you have a family history), everyone should be screened for colorectal cancer.

How can I/my organization participate in Dress in Blue Day?
Individuals, businesses and community groups are all encouraged to participate in Dress in Blue Day, by encouraging friends, family, co-workers and other members of their organization to wear blue. By getting people to talk about Colorectal Cancer, and learning about ways to prevent this # 2 cause of cancer death in the U.S., you could save a life -- maybe even your own.

What is the history behind Dress in Blue Day?
Dress in Blue Day was started in March of 2006 by a Colon Cancer Alliance volunteer, Anita Mitchell. In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of screening, Anita worked with her children's local k-8 Catholic school and parents to coordinate a recognition day. On that day, students, who normally wore a uniform to school, were allowed to wear blue if they donated a dollar to colon cancer research. To promote the event, Anita sent a notice to each of the 500 families at the school, letting them know about the special day and included some simple screening guidelines for the parents. When the children came to school on Dress in Blue Day they were each given a blue ribbon, signifying their participation.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm going to change my shirt immediately! Thank you for this special reminder. Today, I wear blue to honor you and your fight over cancer. - Cathy Gill

Anonymous said...

I had already put on a blue shirt for today. Yeah! Was remembering you with special thoughts anyway, but now this will be a visual reminder. Get your rest. Be good to yourself. Love, Kim

Lisa Marie said...

Thanks for the support. Sean wore his blue nomex especially for me. Oh wait...he wears that every day. Oh well.

Anonymous said...

I've got my blue on! Pulling for you!

StaceyEricSullivan said...

Blue it is in the frozen tundra. Here's to a week full of really hot doctors and super nice nurses. :)

dorothy said...

3-6-2009
I am wearing my blue shirt with blue palm trees and my new shoes have blue shoelaces. Will tell others about dress in blue day.
Love you, Lisa!
Aunt Dorothy

Anonymous said...

Hey - a little more advance notice would have been appreciated! Like you don't have enough going on to worry about our schedules and whatnot! Anyway, I'll wear blue tomorrow in your honor - hope that counts! Allison

Sara said...

Lucky me! I wore blue without knowing - and so did Kelly and so did Deklan. Now I know why!

Sara said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vito said...

Blue it is for you!
-Anna

Anonymous said...

Well not reading this til 9:30 tonight, but my pj pants and sweatshirt just so happen to be blue. Coinsedence?? Maybe not. ha. Talked to Grandma Carole earlier and she was just sooo thrilled to hear from both her boys tonight. And loved talking to the little ones too. Hope you are feeling okay...

Anonymous said...

I'm reading too late, but I knew there had to be a wonderful reason I chose to buy a blue cardigan at the Gap today when everything else I picked up was a shade of gray. Love ya, Margaret