San Angelo Man to Appear in National Campaign for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

SAN ANGELO, TX. -- Behind a message of “Fight with Courage,” San Angelo resident Doug Schwartz will be one of the 25 people featured in a new PSA rotating in Times Square this March for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Schwartz lost a friend to colorectal cancer and has become an ambassador for the country’s leading advocacy organization focused on colorectal cancer policy and research, Fight Colorectal Cancer. The PSA will launch during the NASDAQ Opening Bell Ceremony on Feb. 28 at 9:30 a.m. ET. Schwartz’s story will launch on Fight CRC’s Facebook page on Feb. 27.

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cancer killer in the U.S. of men and women combined and Schwartz has courageously advocated and gotten involved with the hopes that his story will save lives. 

“During my friend Clint Cummings’ fight, I saw the debilitating speed this beast has and how devastating it was for those around him. I want to raise awareness for this disease in the tattoo community,” said Schwartz.

His story is one of many stories launching the annual One Million Strong campaign, a movement uniting the over one million survivors of colorectal cancer and their loved ones to get behind a cure and prevent future cases. This year’s theme, “Fight with Courage” is inspired by Schwartz and the other Ambassadors featured in the campaign. 

“Each year we choose a group of ambassadors to be the ‘faces’ of this disease in our annual One Million Strong campaign and each year’s group rallies around a united theme and mantra,” said Anjee Davis, president of Fight Colorectal Cancer. “This year’s group showed tremendous strength and positivity in light of everything they’ve gone through and we wanted to channel that to rally other advocates around the country to follow their example and fight with courage.” 

To join Fight CRC’s awareness efforts this March, flex for a “strong arm” photo and post it on social media with the hashtag #StrongArmSelfie. Additionally, individuals can support Fight CRC’s advocates as they ascend Capitol Hill March 18-20 by adding their names to the “Fight with Courage” petition at FightCRC.org/FightWithCourage.

To see all stories in the One Million Strong campaign, visit WeAreOneMillionStrong.org.  
Colon and rectal cancers make up the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women combined. Each year there’s over 130,000 cases and 50,000 deaths. The disease is preventable with screening, and 90 percent curable in most cases. One in 20 people will be diagnosed with the disease. Although incidence rates over the past decade have decreased among those age-eligible for screenings, early-onset colorectal cancer is on the rise. Discussions with a doctor about screening and knowledge of signs and symptoms are critical steps for prevention.
Fight Colorectal Cancer is a trusted national nonprofit advocacy organization fighting for a cure. It was founded in 2005 by Nancy Roach, a patient advocate who witnessed the need for colorectal cancer advocacy after her mother-in-law’s diagnosis. The organization plays an important role in rallying colorectal cancer advocates to action. Fight CRC is known for activism and patient empowerment throughout patient, academic, political, scientific, medical and nonprofit communities. With a mission focused on advocacy, research, patient education and awareness, the organization serves advocates in every state of the U.S. and many others around the world. Fight CRC is rated Platinum by nonprofit monitoring group GuideStar and is recognized as a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator. To learn more, visit FightCRC.org