April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and each year we make as much noise about bowel cancer as possible to help save lives from the disease.  

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month 2011 was packed full of awareness and fundraising activities and we were delighted that so many of you got involved and helped us to spread the word.  Take a look at some of the things we got up to:

• We launched our brand new website – full of the same quality information and advice as ever, but with more interactive features including new films, patient case studies, a patient forum and online sign up to events and our newsletter.
• We launched a series short films showing Louisa, one of the Beating Bowel Cancer nurses answering your most frequently asked questions which were watched over 1,500 times during April.
• The Bottom Line – our film which aimed to raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms and the importance of early diagnosis was watched over 4,000 times during April. The film was created with funds raised by you in our £3 Bowel Cancer Challenge and will continue to help raise awareness throughout the year. The Bottom Line was named Digital Campaign of the Week by the Third Sector.
• Beyond Bowel Cancer event - over 200 patients, relatives and carers came together to listen to and ask questions of speakers including Prof Sir Mike Richards and a variety of healthcare professionals.  Guests attended workshops, cookery demonstrations, one to one advice sessions and a fashion show. Take a look at our Beyond Bowel Cancer photo gallery.
• Rowlands Pharmacy - our Behind Closed Doors campaign ran across this major pharmacy chain's 510 UK stores, providing awareness materials for pharmacy customers and training guidance for pharmacy staff to empower them to advise their customers on the early signs of bowel cancer, and refer onwards to their GP.
• London Marathon – our biggest team ever pounded the streets on Sunday 17th April to help save lives from bowel cancer.  So far our runners have raised an amazing £70,000 with more to come. Take a look at our London Marathon photo gallery.
• Lots of you wrote to your MPs encouraging them to sign our EDM1592 which raised awareness of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer as part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.