Our daughter Andrea was diagnosed with Colon Cancer, Stage IV, at the age of 35, when her son, Connor was only 3 months old. Andrea, with husband Mike searched for a cure from multiple hospitals, and Andrea underwent a number of different chemo treatments, fighting this cancer with grace and persistence. But when diagnosed at stage IV, the recovery rate is diminished significantly. Andrea was taken from us 13 months after her diagnosis.

Connor does understand who his Mom was through pictures, although those pictures stop when Connor was 16 months old.

Colon cancer among the young has been increasing, and yet the reason for the increase is not known.

Connor is now 7 years old, and will be participating virtually in GYRIG Raleigh 2021 for the sixth consecutive year, along with his Dad, many of his relatives, and many of Andrea’s dear friends. Money raised by this event goes towards education initiatives and expanding colon cancer screening. Colon cancer has a high survival rate, if diagnosed in the early stages.

In the past 9 years, the A MORE BIG LIFE team has raised over $83,000 for colon cancer awareness and education. Raleigh GYRIG has made grants to two organizations over multiple years serving underinsured and/or high-risk areas of NC: High Country Community Health Center (located in the NC mountains) and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (serving Ahoskie in eastern NC, a designated "hotspot" of colon cancer cases). The grant money is providing FIT kits for screening, no-cost follow-up colonoscopies, transportation to colonoscopy visits, and increasing awareness through billboard advertisements. It has been really exciting to see our efforts put to work and hopefully save lives.

Please consider joining our family in this event through either participation in the 5K Run/Walk and/or through a donation towards the event. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Please donate towards Connor’s goal here:

donate.coloncancercoalition.org/raleigh/Member/MyPage/4662251/Connor-Creekmore