Cover Story – How It All Started

On August 28, 2020, the world received notice that our beloved super hero, the Black Panther star Chadwick Aaron Boseman, was dead at 43 years old. In the weeks following his death, we learned Chadwick died of Colon Cancer. Less than four months later on December 7, 2020, Actress Natalie Desselle-Reid known for her roles in “Madea’s Big Happy Family,” “B.A.P.S.,” and “Def Jam’s How to Be a Player” also died from colon cancer at 53. Played out on television on the popular show, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Gregg Leakes, husband to NeNe Leakes who stars on the show died on September 1, 2021 after a four-year battle with colon cancer. He was 66 years old. For me, like many of you, this broke my heart experiencing three prominent figures dying of Colon Cancer within a year. This news, combined with my work as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Gastrointestinal Clinical Research Unit with one of the major hospitals, caused me to step on my soapbox and voice my thoughts. I took to my Facebook page and with a deep passion and concern for my people; I expressed my frustration and went on a rant about Colon Cancer and the importance of early detection. I reiterated how Colon Cancer is the third leading cause of Death in America. Colorectal cancer rates are highest within the African American Community. According to the American Cancer Society, African Americans are about 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it than most other groups. Not only did I voice my concern on Facebook, but I used my position to voice my concern about getting this word out to the Gastroenterologist and Epidemiologist who I work for at the hospital. They heard me, and presented me with an opportunity to write a grant from the North Carolina Society of Gastroenterology, to bring awareness to the community. The kicker was I only had less than a month to get things together. I reached out to an organization and was given all the reasons it couldn’t happen. For a moment, I felt hopeless. Not being one to give up, I remembered who I was, and that I belonged to a group of incredible women and together we had an established network in the community. I presented the idea to Mrs. Peggy Tatum and without hesitation; she said yes.

I arranged meetings with the providers, Peggy and myself, and we went to work. Within a few weeks, we had all the components of the grant. We had one last meeting to review the package and on the last day of submission; the grant was submitted to the society. A few weeks later, The Connection Place received notification of approval. At a luncheon on November 4, 2021, a mock check in the amount of $9,500 was presented. In attendance were members of TCP’s Female Pastors Fellowship, members of the Duke Gastroenterology Clinical Research Unit, the Duke Community Engagement Department, and special guests. Together with our community partners, we have made plans to reach the community and bring awareness to this deadly disease with the launch of The GUT Patrol.

It still amazes me how God drops opportunity in your lap and He then provides everything you need to accomplish the mission. Use your voice to bring awareness to what moves you. You will never know who’s listening, and perhaps what you have to say might change or even save lives.

by Amanda Mandy