Free colorectal cancer screenings begin this Saturday

$10,000 donation to offset costs offered in memory of Warwick resident Carol McManus Warwick - This Saturday, July 28, from 2 to 5 p.m., St. Anthony Community Hospital and Timber Ridge Medical Associates of Middletown, representing a group of gastroenterologists on staff at the hospital, will sponsor the first of two free colorectal cancer screenings for men and women over 50. The screenings will be held in the hospital’s Physician Center adjacent to the new Center for Ambulatory Services. The second free screening will be held at the same location next month on Sunday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to noon. The upcoming Aug. 26 screening has been named the “Carol McManus Memorial Colorectal Cancer Screening Day.” To offset costs for these screenings and to help fight cancer in this community, Warwick resident and Village Trustee George McManus directed that $10,000 from a special fund in memory of his wife, Carol, be donated to St. Anthony Community Hospital. Although diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that had spread to other areas including the colon, Carol McManus, past president of Warwick Lions, continued to direct the organization’s annual 5K race she and her husband, George, also a past president and now first vice president, helped start in 1992. The race raises funds for the Lions International “Quest” youth programs. In April 2006, Carol McManus lost her battle with cancer. At that time her family requested donations, in lieu of flowers, that would be used for a charitable fund in her name. Before the $10,000 memorial gift to St. Anthony’s, funds from this special fund had been donated to the American Cancer Society and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). Colon cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer. Yet more than 50,000 people die of colon cancer. “I feel it’s important,” said George McManus, “for our community hospital to have as many tools as possible in the fight against cancer. And it’s important for those tools to be easily accessible to our local residents. I hope everyone takes advantage of these free screenings.” To make an appointment for one of the free screenings call (845) 987-5122, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.