Country star debuts cancer survivors song at Bayer

WHIPPANY – Bayer Healthcare employees were treated to a country concert Monday and walked away with information about colorectal cancer.

Bayer and Fight Colorectal Cancer kicked off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in style with the help of country music singer Craig Campbell, who performed a new song he wrote for the third annual One Million Strong colorectal cancer campaign, designed to raise awareness and get people screened for colorectal cancer.

"This is a Make-A-Wish moment that we can do this," Fight CRC President Anjelica Davis said.

About 100 Bayer employees showed up for the Monday afternoon event, most dressed in blue, the official color of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Campbell, a national spokesperson for Fight CRC was approached to write a song for the campaign because of his personal connection to the disease. His father died from colon cancer at 36.

"And I just turned 36 myself," Campbell said, adding he gets a colonoscopy every five years because of his family history. "I want to be here for when my kids graduate high school and get married. Who else is going to pay for the wedding?"

For help writing "Stronger Than That," Campbell enlisted the help of Rose Housmann, a Sayreville military veteran and stage IV cancer survivor.

Campbell invited Housmann to Nashville to help him with the song.

"Fight CRC asked if I had a song for the cause," Campbell said, "And I said no, but I can write one, and I know who can help."

Housmann was expected to speak at the event but could not make the trip. Campbell dedicated the song to her and the more than one million other colorectal cancer survivors in the United States.

Campbell said he was disappointed Housemann could not join him Monday for the debut of the song they worked on together, "Stronger Than That," about fighting cancer.

Congressman Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ 10) was also expected to attend Monday, but broke his ankle earlier this week.

Payne, who lost his father to colorectal cancer, lobbied to start the national month and regularly advocates for screenings.

"It's the most curable cancer there is," Payne said.

Rebecca Moss, oncologist at the Rutgers Cancer Institute, shared facts about the disease with the audience.

Moss said colorectal cancer takes several years to develop, and since it is most common in 60-year-olds, colonoscopies are recommended beginning at age 50.

"Not 52, not 53. 50, and not a day over 50," Moss said. "Advocate for your family and friends to get screenings."

Moss cited a "PR lag" with colorectal cancer, saying that it's a disease that generally goes undiscussed even though it is the second most lethal cancer.

There will be an estimated 132,700 new cases of colorectal cancer in the United States this year. There will also be an estimated 49,700 deaths.

"Think about your butt, your booty" Davis said. "If you don't, you could have cancer. We want to get the word out, One Million Strong."

Colorectal cancer survivor Jovannie Lorenzo shared her story Monday, and also the importance of getting checked.

"I'm sharing my story so nobody has to stay quiet about it," Lorenzo said. "Just the fact that we're talking about this… you're giving us hope."

While Campbell promotes the Fight CRC on the East Coast, "90210" actor Luke Perry is raising awareness on the West Coast, starring in a public service announcement that will air on FOX network affiliates.

The goal of One Million Strong is to raise awareness for a disease that is too rarely discussed.

In the first year of the campaign, one million people were reached in person and through social media impressions. Last year, it reached 12 million. This year Davis hopes to exceed that number.

The last two events culminated in New York City, but this year Fight CRC is travelling to Nashville for an event March 29.

New to this year's campaign were "StrongArmSelfies, a social media plan to spread the word through pictures.

Campbell took #StrongArmSelfies with employees before and after the presentation. Bayer plans to donate $1 for every photo shared using that hashtag up to $25,000. Campbell made sure to ask if retweets count toward the total – they do.

Bayer also donated a nearly $14,000 check to Fight CRC raised at a recent Devils hockey game.

At the request of the crowd, Campbell followed up the "Stronger Than That" with a few other songs, including one he wrote for Garth Brooks, a country cover of Lorde's "Royals," and his top 10 hit "Keep Them Kisses Comin."

Go to http://fightcolorectalcancer.org/do-something/raise-awareness/stronger-than-that/ to download "Stronger Than That."

All proceeds from the purchase of the single will benefit Fight Colorectal Cancer.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@dailyrecord.com

Go to FightCRC.org to learn more about the One Million Strong campaign.