FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Nancy Seybold
410.881.3160
Funds Will Support Leadership Development and Community Growth
Washington, D.C. – 6/25/20 – PALTOWN, a non-profit that develops disease-specific communities and leadership training programs to empower patients and caregivers, announced today that the Colon Cancer Coalition has renewed for 2020 a $15,000 grant to support leadership development for the volunteers who run the day-to-day operations of more than 120 “neighborhoods” in PALTOWN’s colorectal cancer community, COLONTOWN.
COLONTOWN is a virtual community serving the needs of over 5,000 patients, survivors, and caregivers. The unique model of COLONTOWN offers members over 120 niche “neighborhoods” focused on different aspects of the cancer experience. The neighborhoods are organized into ten communities, each of which is managed by a Community Leader who oversees all aspects of the neighborhood experience. All of COLONTOWN’s Community Leaders are patients or caregivers, often juggling active treatment, family obligations, and work.
This grant will continue the Colon Cancer Coalition’s financial support for the Community Leaders, begun with an inaugural grant in 2019. In addition, the grant will enable PALTOWN to extend an initiative to systematically increase participation in each of COLONTOWN’s neighborhoods, and to build a disease education resource library as part of its new COLONTOWN University offering.
“Patient and caregiver volunteers – all of whom have navigated disease or cared for someone who has – are the reason COLONTOWN exists,” said Erika Brown, the CEO and Co-Founder of PALTOWN.
“Each person wants to give back by helping others navigate the waters of cancer care,” Brown said. “We are grateful to the Colon Cancer Coalition for its help to lift up these patients and caregivers and to enable them to grow their leadership skills and communities.”
“COLONTOWN offers a unique experience for colorectal cancer survivors and their caregivers,” says Holly Anderson Carlson, president of the Colon Cancer Coalition. “The volunteers working daily to ensure this community thrives are the vital drivers of this inclusive space. We are proud to support COLONTOWN’s volunteers and Community Leaders.”
About the Colon Cancer Coalition
The Colon Cancer Coalition is a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, Minn. dedicated to encouraging screening and raising awareness of colorectal cancer. The organization’s signature Get Your Rear in Gear® and Tour de Tush® event series are volunteer-driven in communities throughout the United States. Money raised at these events are granted back into local communities to help will build and sustain programs and research encouraging early prevention, screening, and patient support for this disease. By making the words colon, colorectal and colonoscopy a part of the everyday language, we believe we can overcome the fear and decrease deaths from this largely preventable cancer. For more information visit ColonCancerCoalition.org.