Twin sisters Hailey and Alyssa celebrated their 11th birthday in December. It is a bittersweet day for them and their family – the joy of their birth was accompanied by an unthinkable tragedy. Their father died the evening they were born, eleven years ago, from colorectal cancer.
The girls never knew their father. But they’ve carried forward his legacy by becoming young advocates for colorectal cancer prevention.
I had the opportunity to meet these two amazing girls and their mother at a Super Colon stop last April. They came out to see the Prevent Cancer Super Colon™, bringing with them a letter that read:
Get your Colonoscopy!
Hailey and Alyssa spreading the word about colorectal cancer early detection
We are Hailey and Alyssa, age 10, and we are putting Colonoscopy’s to your attention. Our father died the day we were born from Colorectal Cancer, and we are concerned about your health. Here are some good reasons to get this scope:
- Finding out early is the best way to go, and you have a better chance of survival.
- 655,000 deaths per year from this deadly disease.
- Smokers, and heavy drinkers have a big risk of getting this.
Although most people are diagnosed at 50 years old, this can affect all ages. Our dad was diagnosed at the young age of 33, and died at the age of 35. I hope this quick write has inspired you to go get your Colonoscopy! Hailey and Alyssa
Hailey and Alyssa posted their letter for everyone to see at the colon stop; such words of wisdom from two young girls.
Their efforts have continued since I met them in April. They have raised money for the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing at Central Maine Medical Center through the Dempsey Challenge. And in front of the hospital where their mother works, they turned a ribbon of pink tulips blue after a local nursery donated purple petunias that the girls planted the within the ribbon for colon cancer awareness.
Through sharing their story, the sisters hope to educate others about how they can prevent or detect colon cancer at an early stage and help prevent cancer from taking the lives of others. Thank you Hailey and Alyssa!
