Hitting Cancer Below The Belt Inc

Colon Health Education and Support Services: HCB2 continues to provide education and resources through both in-person and virtual events in partnership with community groups and employers. Tens of thousands have been educated either directly or virtually through our Can We Talk? presentations and appearances with our popular and entertaining large inflatable colon. Providing various educational resources to engage people in a deeper level of conversation about colon health and help people move from awareness to action is a large focus of our community education. HCB2 continues to provide Healing Belly Basket delivery to cancer patients and survivors. A travel-sized friendly version of the basket was also created to deliver educational support and resources to patients and survivors outside of the delivery service area. Over 275 baskets and travel-sized versions have been provided to those in need. The basket includes information about each nutritional item, each of which is shown through research to increase gut health, boost the immune system, and contribute to overall health and wellbeing. In addition, we continue to include the very popular HCB2 anti- inflammatory grocery list in the basket. The grocery list is also distributed at community presentations, and the information is downloadable on the HCB2.org website.

Reaching High Risk Communities: HCB2 Community Screening initiatives allow us to reach members in high risk communities across the Commonwealth of Virginia. By partnering with the local organizations in these areas, HCB2 is able to offer education and screening services during community health events. Virginia has two locations which have been identified as national hot spots for colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. HCB2s START program, Screening The AT Risk Together, was created to bridge resources within these areas and offer early detection services to address the need to increase education and screening rates in an effort to decrease the high incidence rate. In addition, HCB2s annual Free Colonoscopy Day assists high risk, underinsured patients with the ability to receive the colonoscopy procedure. Young people are now being diagnosed with colorectal cancer in larger numbers than the older community, so HCB2 has continued and expanded their educational efforts, targeting high school students who are facing colorectal cancer as the number one cancer-related cause of death. HCB2s Junior Board, consisting of high school students, has expanded from six area high schools to eleven high schools throughout the country. The group continues to meet monthly through Zoom meetings. The Junior Board members are interested in educating and inspiring their peers and community in an effort to improve colon health and prevent young peoples diagnosis of colorectal cancer. The members help in the planning, creation of content, and marketing of messages and activities to better reach the Generation Z community. This generation of young people will face colorectal cancer as the number one cancer killer by the year 2030, and are 2x more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer and 4x more likely to be diagnosed with rectal cancer. To prevent this disease, awareness needs to be raised, education must be given, and proactive lifestyle behaviors must be engaged. High school students are equipped to reach their peers and the Junior Crew is an asset to HCB2. Lastly, students also receive numerous benefits which include obtaining community service hours, opportunities to shadow Board members, and becoming educated about colon health.