Our Story
Bum Run was founded in 2012 by gastroenterologist Dr. Ian Bookman, who saw firsthand how a lack of awareness and screening was contributing to preventable colorectal cancer deaths. What started as a Toronto 5K has grown into a Canada-wide movement to get more people talking about their bums—and getting screened.
Did you know?
Right now in Canada:
- Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related death
- An average of 69 Canadians are diagnosed every day—and 25 die from it
- About 1 in 17 men and 1 in 19 women will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime
Our mission is to:
- Increase awareness of how common colorectal cancer is today.
- Increase participation in screening programs across Canada to prevent colorectal cancer.
- Raise funds for charities with a proven record in saving lives through the promotion of colorectal cancer screening.
Colorectal cancer is happening at younger and younger ages - so advocacy and screening is more important than ever before. When colorectal cancer is found early, survival is about 90%. At advanced stages, it's less than 15%.
When you should be screened depends on where you live and your individual risk. Family history and certain health conditions may mean screening should begin earlier. Know your risk, know the signs and symptoms, and know when to screen.
We started with one 5K in Toronto. More than a decade, thousands of runners and $2.2 million later, we're still running toward the same goal: a future where fewer Canadians die needlessly from colorectal cancer.
And we're bringing every bum we can with us.
