This Friday the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is participating in #DressInBlueDay to raise awareness about colorectal cancers. All county employees are invited to wear blue on March 1 to show their support and bring new attention to this disease.
Last fall the prosecutor's office was shaken by the death of DPA Maureen Goodman’s son, Mitch Johnson, from colon cancer. Just 38 years old, Mitch had been diagnosed less than four months before.
Now Maureen and her family are committed to bringing new attention to Young Onset colorectal cancer, the rate of which is unfortunately rising.
When they lost Mitch, “We promised we would continue to try to fight and make an impact on this horrible disease,” Maureen said. “We just miss him so much, but we’re trying to do something that helps other people and that would keep somebody else from going through this.”
For Maureen, that has meant supporting the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and its Young Onset program. Dress in Blue Day was spurred by CCA to bring attention to March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
How You Can Help on Dress in Blue Day
1. Wear blue to work on Friday, March 1.
2. Post to social media using #DressInBlueDay and encourage others to learn about the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer.
3. Support the Blue Star Tribute in memory of Mitch Johnson.
Asked what Dress in Blue Day means to her, Maureen said, “It’s a way to honor my son and those people that we’ve lost. It’s the third-most common cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths. There’s a real need for more public awareness about it – especially among young people, who are often misdiagnosed until it’s too late.”
Later this week we’ll share more of Mitch’s story and what we can all do to cut the rate of colorectal cancer deaths.
