The following is a news release:

The Colon Cancer Coalition will be hosting the “Polypalooza – A Carnival of Colorectal Calisthenics” at Southdale Center on Saturday, March 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Polypalooza is the official kick off to the 4^th Annual Get Your Rear in Gear 5K that will be held on April 13^th in Edina, as well as the start of Colon Cancer Awareness Month.  The event will educate mall patrons and invited guests about the prevention, screening and treatment of colorectal cancer in a highly entertaining manner. Special highlights include:

• The Super Colon, a 20-foot long inflatable replica of the colon that visitors can walk through and see healthy tissue to advanced colon cancer.
• The “Dr. Scientificus and the Good Habit Kids Tackle Cancer” puppet show, with performances at Noon and 1 p.m.
• The Screening Day Relay Race where teams of 3 will compete to see who can make it through their “colonoscopy” more quickly
• Fun carnival games like Pop a Polyp, Polyp Shoot Out, Polyp Duck Pool, and the Toilet Paper Roll
• Have your photo taken on the “Royal Throne”
• Special “celebrity” appearances throughout the day
• Registration for 2008 Get Your Rear in Gear 5K run, walk and Kid’s ½ Mile Fun Run, hosted by Southdale Center on Sunday, April 13th
• Information tables with valuable health information on colorectal cancer – prevention, screening, treatment and survivorship.

 “Colon cancer screening has been a taboo subject far too long, and it is the Coalition’s mission to raise awareness, reminding individuals that colorectal screening is just another necessary medical exam as we age, like a mammogram or prostate examination,” said Kristin Tabor, President of the Colon Cancer Coalition. More than 53,000 lives were lost to colon cancer last year. Remarkably, as the second largest cancer killer, the disease is nearly preventable with regular screening and highly treatable if caught in its earliest stages. We hope you will join us for this unique event.  For more information about this special event, visit www.GetYourRearInGear.com or call 952-426-6521.