(Community Matters 187) Get Your Colon Rollin With A 5K And Car Show

Colon cancer screening is one of those topics many of us avoid until we can’t. Michelle Redmond, coordinator for the Five C’s, and Angela Myers from the Battle Creek Community Foundation talk about how early detection and colorectal cancer prevention actually play out in real life across Calhoun County and Kalamazoo County. 

In addition, they discuss their upcoming event, Get Your Colon Rolling on Saturday, May 30 at Riverside Park in Battle Creek, featuring a 5K walk/run and a classic car show as well as practical resources you can utilize to prevent screening barriers. 

Episode Resources

Get Your Colon Rollin Registration Website

Battle Creek Community Foundation  Website

ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS
Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Community Matters, an interview program focused on community leaders and newsmakers in and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays, 8:00 AM Eastern on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

Community Matters is sponsored by Lakeview Ford Lincoln and produced by Livemic Communications.

Transcript

Welcome And Event Overview

Richard Piet 0:02

I'm Richard Pyatt. Thanks for being with us for Community Matters on the Radio. Saturdays in the 8 o'clock hour, 95.3 FM. Battle CreekPodcast.com. We land there too. And you can listen there anytime. And if you're a podcast person or you want to be, just go to Where You Get Podcasts, Apple Spotify. Search Community Matters, Calhoun County. We'll come up. And you can follow us there. And when there are new episodes like this one, they will pop up and tell you. So get your colon rolling is an event to help bring awareness to the idea of colon cancer screenings, one of the most preventable cancers when detected early. And we try to make it fun on May 30th with a 5K walk and run and a classic car show. Michelle Redmond is here along with Angela Myers to talk about that. Welcome to you both.

SPEAKER_00 0:59

Thank you for having us. Thank you.

Richard Piet 1:02

Yeah, thank you. This is uh a big event and it's uh health related, obviously, with the idea of getting around and moving a little bit with the 5K walk and run. And also the car show looks like the uh Misfits Car Club is involved in this, Michelle.

SPEAKER_01 1:19

Yes, this will be the first year that we've done this with the car show. It was actually Dr. Mudge, our committee chair for the 5Cs idea, and we thought it went along with Get Your Calon Rollin'. And the Misfits Car Club was happy to partner with us. So we're very excited to have this happening this year.

Richard Piet 1:43

And so there is registration for both the 5K and the classic car show, and we'll tell you how to do that coming up in a minute. Angela uh makes her day usually at the Battle Creek Community Foundation and uh is connected, of course, to something called the Five C's, which Michelle talked about. What is that about, Angela?

Five C’s Mission And Local Focus

SPEAKER_00 2:02

Five C's is the Connecting Communities Cancer Control Coalition. You can tell why we call it five C's, because if I had to repeat that multiple times, that'd be a rough one. But it's a group of individuals that work to address cancer burden in Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties through community collaboration. So they talk about strategies, they look at data, and one of the strategies to educate people about colon cancer is the event that's coming up. We've been involved at the Battle Creek Community Foundation since the inception of the five Cs. It used to be just Calhoun County, and we expanded to Kalamazoo so that we could have some greater outreach and support across both counties. But we've been the fiscal sponsor for the five seeds since it started. So it's not a standalone 501c3. We fiscally sponsor it so that um they can use our nonprofit status to do really charitable work and do really fun events like this without having to worry about the burden of the checks and balances that we do on our end for them.

Richard Piet 3:04

That's a relief, huh, Michelle?

SPEAKER_00 3:06

Yes.

Richard Piet 3:08

As the coordinator of the five

Seymour The Inflatable Colon Tour

Richard Piet 3:10

C's program, you get to put together events like get your colon rolling and also see to it that the word gets out, right?

SPEAKER_01 3:18

Correct. I also, as the coordinator, take Seymour, our inflatable colon, which you've seen, Richard, at events for educational purposes. It's a great tool. People love to see Seymour. And so that's a big part of what I do for the five C's as the coordinator is venture out to different events.

Richard Piet 3:41

Yeah, if you haven't seen Seymour, you really should go to one of those events. I mean, it it it's kind of snicker-worthy at first, the idea of a big colon that's inflated and you get to walk through it. But there's a bunch of education involved here. And for a lot of us, Michelle, seeing is understanding, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 3:59

Yes. And when you walk through one side of the colon shows the polyps and the other side shows without. So it's a very good visual um educational tool.

Richard Piet 4:10

Yeah. Do people get it? I mean, when you bring Seymour to events and blow it up, uh, you probably see people the the light go on for people. I mean, we hear about this, you know, get your screenings. The age to begin screenings is lower. If you have history of colon cancer in your family, this is a reason to be screened maybe even sooner than that. We hear those things, but you probably see people really begin to understand when you take Seymour on the road.

SPEAKER_01 4:41

That's true. People do like to go in there and they do seem to understand what it's showing to visually see it. Some people are a little afraid to go inside Seymour. So, you know, there's that. Kids actually like to go in there too. And it is a chance for the you know, early teens to understand about how important pre-screenings are for cancer. So that's a good thing. And we also hand out a lot of information handouts for people as well.

Richard Piet 5:13

And the goal is to get them thinking about being screened because we're fighting the preconceived notions of getting a colonoscopy and you know, all of these things that that people say, oh boy, I don't I don't want to have to deal with that. But we really do, and it's important that we do.

SPEAKER_01 5:32

Yes. And they have made the screenings, you know, a little bit easier for people. So that's helpful. And I do hand out some information about that as well.

Richard Piet 5:43

You listen to this, Angela, you start to get the picture why the Battle Creek Community Foundation would want to support something like this, the five C's. This is word that has to get out, and sometimes uh I it used to say that with advertising, you know, you needed to hear a message three times or something. Now it's 103 or something, I don't know, because we have so many messages coming at us. But these important messages need to get out, right?

SPEAKER_00 6:09

They do. And the reason why the Battercreen Community Foundation has been so involved in this is because we have local folks who wanted to do this work very locally. So there's national organizations that send out this information. You might see a billboard from time to time, you might see a pop-up ad come across as you're scrolling social media. Um, but it's a little bit different when it comes from those local experts that can really do that greater outreach. We see that in all the five C's work because the five C's is greater than colon cancer. They work on lung cancer, they work on breast cancer, prostate cancer. So there's a lot of they work on all the different cancers that you might be able to identify on getting information out that those that really impact this community. So we know that we have some hot spots in the community of where folks might not be getting screens. So this group can say, we want to target that spot and really dive in a little bit deeper because we know that there's a group of folks that are not getting those screenings and we want to find out why and address those barriers. And you're not gonna be able to see that from a national organization. So that's why this group raises money to support those very local initiatives like a Seymour that can be out at those public events that and Michelle can be talking to people and handing them that pamphlet and answering questions or directing them where they can go. So um, that's why we're involved at the community foundation to just really keep it local.

Using Data To Target Screening Gaps

Richard Piet 7:37

So, do we know where in the county we aren't uh measuring up screening-wise?

SPEAKER_00 7:44

We know where we're not measuring up with some of the screenings. You know, when we look at the county for colon cancer, our screenings um across the county are at about 77%, which is actually uh pretty good compared to Michigan. Colon cancer screenings don't get as specific as some of our other cancers. So I can look at like breast cancer and know which neighborhood, but I can also look at disaggregated data by race for some of the other cancers as well. So it really depends on which one we're looking at and trying to find, you know, where we need to put that information.

Richard Piet 8:21

That's incredible. You can actually zoom in on neighborhoods and say, okay, a certain neighborhood is not getting their mammograms at a level we'd like to see.

unknown 8:30

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 8:31

Yeah, absolutely. And actually anybody can by going to um mycalhoon.org. It's a site that is held by the coordinating council and they keep that data updated. And if you are a little bit data geeky like I am, I like to dive in and see where something that we can uh address. And so if you can really click through the data and start looking at census tracks, which then gives you neighborhoods and seeing where um we might have some greater needs. Wow.

Richard Piet 9:04

That's my calhoun.com. Is that my or mi?org.

SPEAKER_00 9:07

I'm sorry, mycalhoun.org.

Richard Piet 9:09

Thank you, thank you. Uh is that M I M I like Michigan, mycalhoun.org. Wow. Yes. That's really interesting that the data gets that zoomed in and you know where you have to target. Michelle, this must be really helpful, right? To uh say, look, we know where we have to be.

SPEAKER_01 9:28

Absolutely. It is very helpful. Angela knows where to send us.

Richard Piet 9:32

Yeah. So what do people say when you're out with Seymour

Real Barriers Insurance Work Transportation

Richard Piet 9:37

and you're trying to tell them, you know, you gotta have a colon cancer screening? What are the reasons they give for not having done so? Is there anything that holds water? Probably not.

SPEAKER_01 9:50

Right. Well, sometimes people don't have health insurance or they don't have a primary care physician. Okay, I get it. Um, so we have to work with those barriers. And Angela's involved with uh, you know, helping with all of that as well.

Richard Piet 10:05

So you want to know about those folks, Angela.

SPEAKER_00 10:07

We do, and and it would be great. I mean, this is another thing that we can do when we do receive funding, like through this event that's coming up. We do these types of fundraisers so that we can expand the work that we're doing. So we've done a lot in the breast cancer area because we've had a lot of fundraising in that area. So we were able to put out a survey to community, really find out why it is that they're not getting mammograms. We would love to do the same for colon cancer so we can get even more specific because we heard with mammograms, part of it was just the timing of scheduling an appointment. Like, I can't leave work to go and have an appointment, but the last appointment's at 445 to get a mammogram, or it's months out, and then maybe like I have a kiddo that's sick and I'm not able to make it there and I have to cancel, and then I'm thinking another few months out. So we try to get that information so that then we can start talking about what's the solution here. And would love to do the same with colon cancer because we have some ideas, as Michelle has mentioned, just from being out and talking with folks, but getting a survey out to find out more is really helpful in the work that we do.

Richard Piet 11:10

You know, one of the things that I've heard, and the words might have even come out of my own mouth, Michelle, is man, you know, when I have to get a colonoscopy, I can't drive myself. So now I gotta find a way there and back. And of course, when you're done, you're a little groggy and and all of that. Do you hear that? And what do you recommend?

SPEAKER_01 11:30

Yes, transportation is a huge, huge thing for a lot of people. One thing that I know a little bit about now is ride Calhoun, where people can call and schedule a ride. So there's, you know, I know that I do tell people about that now. I'm hoping to get some actual information on Ride Calhoun to send out, send or give people when they come by, you know, to talk about their colonoscopies. So that's one thing. And I think there are some, I know there are grants for Angela, I have to speak to that more about getting rides for people, places like that.

SPEAKER_00 12:08

So also your healthcare provider. So wherever you're going to get the colonoscopy, if that's um Bronson or Grace Health, they might have a fund available that they're able to do that. So we're not able as a community foundation to give individuals money except for if it's a scholarship and even them we're giving it to the school to be able to pay for that schooling. But we can give organizations a grant that helps them to fund transportation for their patients because then they're identifying who is the one that needs it. So you can always ask those questions when you're talking to your medical provider so that they can get you connected with a patient advocate, a social worker, someone who can really help navigate and tell you what resources are available.

Richard Piet 12:52

Okay, good to know about that because this is a question I think that comes up. And so you mentioned the ride Calhoun option. Even if you're a little groggy after all that, they don't mind giving you a ride home, huh?

SPEAKER_01 13:03

Right.

Richard Piet 13:04

Yeah, good to know. No, okay. So there's uh some thinking for you to do. And by the way, I mentioned it, but let's talk about the ages for screenings. Now we're talking about getting your first colon cancer screening in the 40s.

SPEAKER_01 13:18

45 is what they're suggested, unless you're a higher risk.

Richard Piet 13:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:22

But yes, they have made it 45.

Richard Piet 13:25

All right, we will certainly put uh some resources, including that mycalhoun.org resource in the show notes for this episode at battlecreekpodcast.com, so you can click through and

How To Register For 5K

Richard Piet 13:37

uh see some of this information. So you can support this effort, the five C's through the get the colon rolling, get your colon rolling event. 5K walk and classic car show. This is going to be Saturday, May 30th at Riverside Park in Battle Creek. We need to let you know if we want to do either one of these, right, Michelle?

SPEAKER_01 13:57

Yes, please.

SPEAKER_00 13:58

You can register through the Battle Creek Community Foundation's website, bccfoundation.org, and then click on donate, and you'll see all of our events that we have listed there.

Richard Piet 14:10

Okay. We'll put that link in the show notes too. So, yeah, if you want to be part of the 5K walk and run, uh there is a registration, and uh you need to register by May 15th. 20 bucks for that, and then 25 on the day of the event. So you can save yourself a few dollars if you do that by the middle of May. And the classic car show in partnership with the Misfits Car Club, they know what they're doing. Registration, 10 a.m. Show at 11 to 2 on the uh 30th.

Car Show Details And Deadlines

Richard Piet 14:40

And it is open to all makes and models. Being a bit of a car person myself, this is always a question. Sometimes uh they have to be, you know, considered antique or a certain age, not in this case, open to all makes and models, dash plaques with the first 50 entries. That's always fun. A lot of folks like to assemble all those dash plaques in a display in their garages to show everywhere they've been. There's trophies too, which is also nice to display. Registration by the 15th is uh 10 bucks, and then the day of the event is 15. And so uh a nice opportunity there if you have a car you'd like to bring along and support the five C's and the get your colon rolling event. If folks are inspired after having heard this, and I imagine there's folks out there in this category, they're hearing this again, and they're saying, Okay, I know I have to do my colon cancer

Make The Call And Get Screened

Richard Piet 15:38

screening. I haven't done it, I'm gonna do it. What would you say to them, either one of you, to get them to make that call ASAP?

SPEAKER_00 15:46

I would say one thing that you can do, um, hopefully folks in our community have a my chart account and go to Bronson. If they don't, then they can always reach out to Bronson and get set up so that you can connect with them on those type of screenings. And that's if you don't have a primary care physician. So if you have a primary care physician, call your primary care physician because they probably are already telling you to do it and have all the information you need to be able to do that. But if not, you can always reach out to one of our other medical providers and they're going to get you set up, help you find a primary care physician, and they're gonna help you get those screenings that are really essential.

Richard Piet 16:24

Yeah, absolutely. Michelle, what do you say to folks so that they've walked through Seymour and they know I gotta do this? What do you tell them?

SPEAKER_01 16:31

I tell them to contact their primary care if they have one, if not to check what Angela just alluded to. And also, you know, a lot of times they'll say the pre-work workup, how hard it is, and I let them know it's not as difficult as it used to be. So talk to their physician and about the different options that are available.

Richard Piet 16:52

All right. You heard it. It's not as hard as it used to be to prepare, shall we say, for uh your colonoscopy. And so ask your doctor about it. In the meantime, get your colon rolling. That's May 30th at Riverside Park 5K Walk and Run and Classic Car Show to support the Five C's program. Michelle Redman, Angela Myers. Thanks to you both and good luck.

SPEAKER_01 17:17

Thank you.