The Citrus Colorectal
Cancer Foundation
OUR STORY
Scroll down to learn about our history, impact, and vision.
OUR MISSION
No one person should go through this battle alone.
Our mission is to get resources into every scoping center in America. We know that getting diagnosed with colorectal cancer can be a whirlwind, as we have been there before. We know the emotional toll of treatment, and we know how alone and bewildered it can make a person feel. It does not have to be this way. We strive to connect every colorectal cancer patient with the proper resources to better aid their treatment.
OUR STORY
Originally started in June 2021, our goal was to guide those affected by CRC to the proper resources.
The Citrus Colorectal Cancer Foundation was originally established in June of 2021, the one-year "cancerversary" of our founder, Karen Fisher. Karen worked with her gastroenterologist, Dr. Trupti Shinde, her colorectal surgeon, Dr. Parth Patel, and her son, Bryan Fisher, to create the foundation.
The main focus of the Citrus Colorectal Cancer Foundation has always been to provide support and resources to colorectal cancer patients, families, and healthcare workers. The original function of our foundation was to be a support group, as we would hold weekly support group meetings in our local library.
After a few months, our foundation grew to become more than a support group, and began to become a "resource for resources", where we would lead newly diagnosed patients to the right resources to best benefit their treatment. We provide direction to the proper informational resources, where patients and community members can become educated on colorectal cancer; financial resources, where patients can find information about insurance and outside grants to aid in treatment expenses; and emotional resources, where patients can find a helping hand through their treatment journey.
Our foundation still holds regular support group meetings, but we have developed into so much more than that. We now provide countless resources to patients and caregivers, and attend conferences to educate practitioners about proper resources to which their patients could greatly benefit.
OUR IMPACT
CitrusCRC's impact to date
$60,000
RAISED FOR CRC RESOURCE ADVOCACY
54
CLINICS PROVIDING OUR RESOURCES
2,500+
PEOPLE REACHED BY OUR ONLINE RESOURCES
LOCAL IMPACT
Community Outreach Events
An important focus of our mission is improving awareness and resource availability within our home county, Citrus County, FL.
To accomplish this, we host two annual community events: ColonFest and our Charity Casino Night.
ColonFest is a local, family-friendly event to increase awareness of colorectal cancer and to promote healthy lifestyles. Our inaugural ColonFest happened in March of 2024, and helped to educate nearly 300 community stakeholders about colorectal cancer and healthy lifestyles.
We also host an annual Charity Casino Night in order to raise funds for our mission: to print and send resource guides to every healthcare center in the United States.
Over the past two years, we have raised nearly $50,000 from these Casino Nights, which has helped us to continue printing and shipping educational materials to ensure they are free for practitioners, patients, and community members.
NATIONAL IMPACT
Our national recognition
In a heartwarming recognition of remarkable community engagement, education, and awareness efforts for colorectal cancer prevention and resource advocacy, Dr. Trupti Shinde, co-founder and vice president of the Citrus Colorectal Cancer Foundation, has been bestowed with the American College of Gastroenterology's esteemed SCOPY GoodWorks Award.
The ACS NCCRT is a national coalition of public, private, and voluntary organizations whose mission is to advance colorectal cancer control efforts by improving communication, coordination, and collaboration among health agencies, medical-professional organizations, and the public.
CitrusCRC has joined the collaborative partnership with more than 100 member organizations across the nation committed to taking action in the screening, prevention, and early detection of colorectal cancer.
Our partner organizations
We could not be the organization we are today without the support of our sponsors:
Florida Cancer Society
Tampa General Hospital Crystal River
HCA Florida Citrus Hospital
Trusted Solutions, LLC
Cody's Original Roadhouse - Crystal River
The Grove Health and Rehabilitation
Seafood Seller
Gastroenterology Associates
Nine State Brewery
Wallace's at the Greenhouse
Citrus County Chronicle
Tortuga Tropical Artistry
Crystal River Health and Rehabilitation
Mederi Caretenders
Citrus Well Drilling and Pump Repair
Lucid Anti Aging
Nick Nicholas Ford
IM&P Wellness Center
44 Tackle Co.
Michelle Fowler of Cruise Planners
CONMED
Citrus 95.3
Meek Real Estate
SCR Pavers & Hardscapes
AVAM Sciences
Advanced Gastroenterology - Crystal River