Floral Park, NY, January 31, 2011 – The Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation® (CCCF) held its 8th Annual Colon Cancer Challenge® Kick-Off Breakfast Thursday, January 20, 2011.

The kick off breakfast was an opportunity for invited guests, including nonprofit organization partners, corporate sponsors, foundation staff, volunteers and board, along with team leaders and top fundraisers to gather in preparation of the 2011 Challenge, the premier colon cancer awareness event held each year in Central Park in March during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. This year’s breakfast was hosted by EmblemHealth which provides health insurance through its companies Group Health Incorporated (GHI) and HIP Health Plan of New York.

At this year’s kick-off event, awards were given to the 2010 top two individual fundraisers, Christina Puglisi (Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY) and Jose Claxton (Summit, NJ); top team Day at the Bay (Breezy Point, NY); and top Charity Runner Don Scott (New York, NY), who as a member of the CCCF’s inaugural team to participate in the 2010 ING NYC Marathon ran his th marathon while raising nearly $9,000 for the CCCF despite losing his father to colon cancer just days before the race.

“We are delighted to present the first fundraising awards in the history of the Challenge to these individuals and the team that achieved the highest levels of money raised in 2010,” said Dale Mintz, Executive Director of the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation ®, “It is our way of saying thank you for the exemplary commitment and dedication they have shown to the foundation and our mission. Mintz added, “We look forward to presenting these awards at our annual kick-off event each year."

“We are committed to the early detection and prevention of cancer and we are delighted to host this event which is one of the many ways we work to raise awareness among our members, employees and the community at large,” says Karen Smith-Hagman, RN, MSN and VP, Medical Management for EmblemHealth. “We have forged important relationships with the CCCF and this will be our fourth year supporting the Challenge.”

The Colon Cancer Challenge®, in its eighth year, gives colon cancer survivors and the family and friends of those affected by colon cancer a unique opportunity to help raise public awareness and contribute to the fight against this often fatal, yet preventable, disease. The event includes a 4-Mile Run, 15K (both qualifiers for the ING NYC Marathon) and 1.7-Mile Remembrance and Prevention Walk. This year’s Challenge will be held on Sunday, March 27 in Central Park starting at 10 am.