Paint the Town Blue in March for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

The blue ribbons you see around Freehold Borough and in CentraState Medical Center have a message: get screened for colorectal cancer. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness and CentraState and area businesses have teamed up for the Paint the Town Blue campaign to bring attention to the disease.

On Thursday, March 3, The Metropolitan Café and Freehold Jewelers in Freehold and Nonna’s Citi Cucina restaurant in Manalapan will donate a portion of their sales to benefit colorectal cancer programs and research at CentraState. On Friday, March 4, CentraState employees will wear blue to work as part of National Dress in Blue Day.

CentraState will also offer free lectures and colorectal screenings on Tuesday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus. To register for the screenings or for more information, visit http://www.centrastate.com/PaintTheTownBlue or call 732-308-0570.

Colorectal cancer survivor Paulette Stallone of Manalapan is assisting CentraState in its efforts to raise awareness. Stallone, a marathon runner and fitness instructor, was shocked when she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer three years ago.

"I was scared to get screened, and scared of what they might find. But after being diagnosed, and successfully treated, I can positively say it was the best decision I’ve ever made," Stallone said.

CentraState, in conjunction with the Freehold Area Runners and Jersey Shore Runners clubs, will sponsor the second annual "Paulette Steps Toward Cancer Wellness" 5K run/1-mile walk. The event will take place Sunday, March 27 at 10 a.m. at Monmouth Battlefield State Park.

Participants can enjoy a day of exercise, giveaways, raffles, food and music. The entry fee is $25 prior to March 1 and $30 thereafter. The fundraiser is named in honor of Stallone, who continued running three miles a day, four days a week throughout chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The inaugural event in March 2010 attracted more than 350 participants and raised more than $26,000. For more information about the event, to register, or to make a donation online, visit http://www.centrastate.com/cancerrun.