FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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



TEACHER, COLORECTAL CANCER SURVIVOR EDUCATES
OTHERS IN UNCONVENTIONAL WAY: JENNIFER EDENS SIMMONS IS
MISS DECEMBER IN 2005 COLONDAR


Jennifer Edens Simmons was only 36 years old when she was diagnosed with stage II colon cancer. Now 38 and cancer-free for over two years, Jennifer is going to extraordinary lengths to educate others about colorectal cancer.

She is featured as Miss December 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. Jennifer first “met” Molly McMaster, co-founder of The Colon Club, over a year ago when she found Molly’s website and signed the online guestbook. At the time, Jennifer wrote that she was impressed with Molly’s work and that she wished “there was something I could do to further contribute.”

As she was trying to find models for the Colondar, Molly remembered Jennifer as well-spoken and passionate, and thought she would make a great model. She emailed Jennifer but the email was returned and Molly thought it was a lost cause. Miraculously, Jennifer signed Molly’s guest book again the very next day – for the first time in almost a year – and they talked that very night.

“When Molly asked me about being in the Colondar, I was definitely excited about participating in such a great project,” said Jennifer. “I wasn’t sure what my teenage sons would think about their mom showing off her scar, but I decided to go for it.”

In July of this year, Jennifer met eleven other young survivors when they all came together in upstate New York for the 2005 Colondar photo shoot. “For us, it is all about letting people know that anyone can get colorectal cancer. When people see the Colondar, I hope that they will see that this can happen to anyone. I believe that the Colondar could save someone’s life.”

Jennifer lives in Indianapolis with her husband and two teenage sons. She graduated from Duke University in Durham, NC and is now a French teacher. Jennifer is also an active member of the Association of Online Cancer Resources (www.ACOR.org), a free online service that provides information and support to anyone affected by cancer and related disorders.

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