FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Hannah Vogler
(501)666-1990
(501)425-2626
hannahvogler@colondar.com



YOUNG COLORECTAL CANCER SURVIVORS
EDUCATE OTHERS IN UNCONVENTIONAL WAY:
PENNSYLVANIA WOMEN MODEL FOR 2005 COLONDAR


Erika Kratzer was just 22 and Maria Carosella only 36 when both young women were diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. At the time, neither one would have guessed that one day, they would go to extraordinary lengths to educate others about the disease that could have taken both of their lives.

Erika, now 26, is featured as Miss November and Maria, now 38, is featured as Miss July in the 2005 Colondar – a 12-month wall calendar of beautiful young female colorectal cancer survivors. Each month of the 2005 Colondar features a young woman along with a short biography chronicling her individual experience with colorectal cancer.

The 2005 Colondar is the newest project of The Colon Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating about colorectal cancer in out-of-the-box ways. Erika and Molly McMaster, co-founder of The Colon Club, met in Philadelphia last year while Molly was touring with another Colon Club project, the Colossal Colon. Somewhere in the middle of their conversation, the idea came up that it would be fun to make a calendar of young survivors showing their surgical scars.

“I thought the Colondar was an awesome idea, but I didn’t know if it would ever really happen,” said Erika. “Then Molly told me we were going to go for it, and I said I would do it. At first I was a little self-conscious about modeling in my bathing suit, but then I realized that I just had to get over it because we have to get the public’s attention about colorectal cancer.”

Molly then asked Erika if she could help find other young women who might want to model for the Colondar. Erika contacted her oncologist to see if she knew of any other young women who were colorectal cancer survivors. Erika was surprised to get such a quick response – she got an email back the very next day from Maria.

“At first, I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it,” said Maria. “I have always been a little bit embarrassed to talk about my symptoms, but this is too important to not talk about, so I said yes.”

In July of this year, Erika and Maria met ten other young survivors when they all came together in upstate New York for the 2005 Colondar photo shoot. “I have never seen myself as a model, but I had a really good time,” said Maria. “I want the Colondar to grab the attention of younger people to raise their awareness about this disease. If my participation makes even one young person go to the doctor and talk about his or her symptoms, then it was well worth it for me to feel a little bit uncomfortable.”

In addition to being Miss November, the 2005 Colondar is dedicated to Erika. “Although Erika was not given much hope that she would live, she didn’t let cancer rule her life,” said Molly. “Now, she is cancer-free and using her time to educate others that colorectal cancer can be prevented and it can be beaten. That spirit is amazing, and that is why the 2005 Colondar is dedicated to Erika.”

“As a survivor, I feel that it is my duty to get the word out to others,” said Erika. It is my hope that we can reach millions with our message about this disease that no one wants to talk about. I think the Colondar will help reach that goal.”

Erika lives in West Grove, PA with her husband and two cats. She graduated from Middleburg High School and Allegheny College and has a master’s degree from the University of Georgia at Athens. Erika is now a Research Technician in the Entomology Laboratory at the Stroud Water Research Center in Avondale, PA. Her hobbies also keep her close to the water – in her spare time, Erika enjoys fishing, hiking and camping.

Maria lives in North Hills, PA with her husband and 3 year-old twins. She graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote and Peirce Junior College. Maria just began a new job at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Raising awareness about cancer is a family affair for the Carosellas – Maria’s husband Gino is running the 2004 Chicago Marathon as an American Cancer Society Charity Runner.

The price of 2005 Colondar is $15.00. Visit www.colondar.com to order your very own 2005 Colondar!