About Bum Run

The Bum Run is a not for profit organization founded by Dr. Ian Bookman, a gastroenterologist in Toronto, with the goal of raising awareness about colon cancer screening in order to prevent the 90% of cancer deaths which still needlessly occur.

Our Mission

To increase awareness of how common colon cancer is today. To increase participation in screening programs to prevent colon cancer. To raise funds for charities that have a record in saving lives through promoting easy access to screening.

Bum Run Event

The Bum Run is an annual 5 Kilometre walk / run event to raise awareness of colorectal cancer that occurs on the last Sunday of April. It is a highly visible event, starting at Queen’s Park Circle and proceeding along College Street, Spadina Avenue, Bloor Street and Bay Street. There is also a separate 1km Little Bums Race for children under 12 years of age. For more race information, click here.

Our Charities

All proceeds go toward one of several colon cancer related charities. The charities have been selected based on their performance record and proposal of use of the funds raised.

Kensington Screening Centre is a purpose-built, not-for-profit ambulatory endoscopy clinic, opened in 2009. The Kensington Screen Clinic team provides quality endoscopy services to our patients in a safe and comfortable environment. Our goal is to exceed patient expectations and improve quality of life by providing exceptional preventative screening services and achieving excellent health outcomes.

Colorectal Cancer Canada is a national non-profit organization whose mandate is threefold: raising awareness, supporting patients and advocating for screening and treatment.

St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation is devoted toward upgrading the GI unit at St. Joseph’s Health Centre that provides screening and treatment for colorectal cancer to the very large catchment area of South West Toronto.

GIFT (Group for the Improvement of Intestinal Function and Treatment) is the only formal multidisciplinary team for intestinal failure in Canada, their goal is to improve the care of patients with intestinal failure and to create new knowledge through clinical and translational research

About Colon Cancer

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of death from cancer for both Canadian men and women.

Yet CRC is a highly treatable cancer if it is detected early and it is up to 95 per cent preventable with timely and thorough testing or “CRC screening”. Unfortunately as it stands today, nearly half of those diagnosed find out too late.

The majority of CRCs begin as benign growths in the lining of the colon called adenomatous polyps. Over the years, these polyps grow in size and number, thereby increasing the risk that the cells in the polyps will become cancerous. Timely removal of these growths - easily done during a colonoscopy - will prevent CRC from developing. It is important to identify and remove these polyps as soon as possible.

Polyp removal is usually done during a colonoscopy and the patient is sedated during the procedure. Recovery is very quick and usually pain-free. Polyps are sent for a biopsy and tested for any malignancies.

Anyone 50 and up should be screened regardless of family history. Screening should start earlier for those considered at increased risk of CRC, including:

People with a family history of CRC
People who have already been diagnosed with polyps
People who have inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)

Facts About Colon Cancer