I am sad to say that I had to miss the ribbon cutting ceremony that took place last Thursday at the entrance of the giant inflatable colon that was erected in The Dufferin Mall. Nothing quite like seeing a couple of peeps in business attire standing at the rectal portion of a giant colon, sweetly framed by a couple of external hemorrhoids.
Nope. I couldn't make this up if I tried.
(This photo by Vanessa Farquharson)
On Saturday, following a lazy morning and lunch with some friends, Josh and I decided to hit up the old Dufferin Mall and play with the colon. We've had digestion on our minds a lot lately as we begin planning for our AMAZING-Town joint upcoming retreat focussed on Digestive Healing. We are both in agreement that when the colon is in good form, bacteria in balance and digestion is happening, health is the inevitable result.
Now, coming from an advertising background, I often wonder, when I see random promotional activities or really bad commercials, what on earth was said and presented in that boardroom that landed the client at that execution of an idea. The inflatable colon inside a shopping mall is really topping the list in that category. Now at this point, with The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation refusing to use the words diarrhea or blood in any discussion of diseases characterized by diarrhea and blood, and then going ahead and hosting an annual fundraiser with M & M meat shops where, the purchase of a hot dog, chips and soda pop helps fund research into the treatment and management of a disease that quite surely is worsened by a diet containing hot dogs, chips and soda pop, it was no surprise to see their presence at the entrance to a giant inflatable colon inside a shopping mall.
The giant colon, located right outside Wal-Mart, was filled with the sweet mall smells of freshly baking Cinnabon and the salty, festive air of popcorn mixed with rubber (off-gassing- no pun intended- from the giant blow-up colon). These shenangians were intended to raise awareness on colon health. Awareness was certainly raised.
The display touched on all the major colon diseases from polyps, to diverticuli, a little segment on ulcertive colitis, a spattering of Crohn's disease and videos throughout promoting the benefits of a high fiber diet. There were dietitians on site handing out my fave nutritional document, Canada's Food Guide and Cancer Care Ontario was manning some tables of pamphlets. I picked up a magnet picturing the digestive tract.
What was missing, of course, is what is always missing. It is missing from way too many fund-raising organizations and far too many awareness campaigns. Treatment and management of disease is all fine and dandy, but what about prevention and healing? Advising people to eat vegetables, corn and wheat just isn't going to cut it.
Here are pics from our colon touring adventures.
(I am well aware that these diseases are no laughing manner. An inflatable diseased colon inside a shopping mall, however, very much is.)
Polyps need love too.
Sticking my head in a diverticula
Reaching for treasures.
Embracing Crohn's Disease
Getting next year's holiday card photo taken with Stage 4 colorectal cancer. My hand on my stomach was not intentional but what else can you do next to a PVC scultped cancerous tumour with a massive fan blowing to keep it inflated inside a mall.
20 Responses to “When All Else Fails, Climb Into A Colon”