Guts and Butts Virtual 5k Run/Walk

*Updated 3/26/2020

The 2020 Guts and Butts 5k Run/Walk will not be held in-person this year due to the ongoing health concerns that we are all dealing with. However, we are excited to announce that we will be holding the event as a fun and unique virtual race, and we have a lot of fun things in store for everyone who participates!

As you know, our event raises funds for the 70x2020 initiative, whose goal is to get at least 70% of eligible Mississippians screened for colon cancer. This fundraising is out top priority and is the reason we enjoy support from so many wonderful sponsors, supporters, and participants. To make this fundraising fun and impactful (Since nobody really likes to talk about colon cancer) we take a somewhat irreverent approach by giving foam buttocks to participants. In addition to that fun, we work hard to honor those who have battled cancer, are currently in the fight, or have run out of time. We do this by asking participants to write the names of who the run for on their race bibs, and we offer t-shirts that say Survivor on the back to survivors of any type of cancer.

Luckily for all of us, we can do these things almost as well in a virtual race as in person. With that in mind, we are offering some options for current participants to participate virtually and will continue to ask people to sign up to join us virtually if they haven't already registered.

This is important because it will allow us to raise as much money as possible for our charity partner, the 70 x 2020 Initiative.

If you are already registered, you should have received two emails, each containing information and links for you to either switch to the virtual event for free, convert your registration dollars to a tax deductible donation, or do nothing and wait until a date to be determined to pick up your foam butt, shirt, and race swag.

If you have not registered, you can still help and participate by registering for the virtual event. If you register prior to 4/7 you will get an event t-shirt sent to you.

We will be asking virtual runners to post to social media with pictures of their virtual runs, with decorated foam butts, and we will be giving prizes away, courtesy of our amazing sponsors, to the best posts. More information will follow. Use hashtags #gutsandbutts2020 and #kickincancersbutt to make sure you are entered in the contest!

For now, thanks to everyone who supports this event and for understanding the challenging decisions and change of directions that we and other similar events have to make in this quickly changing environment. We appreciate each and every one of you!

*Original race details follow*

GI Associates & Endoscopy Center is proud to announce the 2020 Guts and Butts 5k Run and Walk. This event takes place to raise awareness of the importance of getting screened for colon cancer, and to celebrate the lives of cancer survivors and those who ran out of time.

Colon cancer is one of the most preventable and curable cancers when screened in a timely manner.

All net proceeds will be donated to the 70x2020 initiative whose goal is to have 70% of all eligible Mississippians screened annually by 2020. In 2019, we raised over $5300 to help fight colon cancer in the state of Mississippi.

There are multiple ways for you to participate:

1) Register to run or walk in person at the time of the race, or virtually on your own time. You can even create a team for your friends and you to team up and run together.

2) Help us reach our fundraising goals by becoming Champion of Hope Fundraiser. Click "Become a Fundraiser" above and commit to raising at least $100. With this commitment, you receive a free race entry, a race t shirt, and a special t shirt identifying you as a Champion of Hope Fundraiser. 

3) Make a donation of any size to our event and submit the name or names of someone you know who has survived cancer, or who ran out of time in their fight and whom you would like to honor on our 8' x 8' Honor Flag which will be displayed at the race venue. This is a special and powerful way to honor someone you love who has been affected by cancer. Click "Donate" above and enter the name of who you are making the donation on behalf of.

4) Volunteer! A race this big requires a lot of help from volunteers. Click on 'More' above and then click on 'Volunteer' to see what volunteer options are available

Participants will be given a foam butt to wear outside of their race clothing, and there will be a "butt customization station" where participants can decorate or customize the color of their foam butts. This is an irreverent and awesome way to bring attention to a serious issue, and to reduce the stigma of colon screenings  and colonoscopies.

Participants who are survivors of any type of cancer will be given a shirt that identifies them as a Survivor, there will be a Survivor photo backdrop area for pictures, and survivors finishing the race will have a separate finish line where they will be given a rose to carry through the line as a thank you for inspiring others in their own cancer fight.

In addition, each participant will receive a custom race bib with an area where the name or names of loved ones who have fought cancer can be written in, allowing the participant to run "In Honor Of" this person. 

This year's event will have an option for participants to create and/or join teams. There will be awards for teams for best costumes, most money raised, and best cumulative finish times.

We are also introducing a crowd sourced fundraising option this year. Participants can pledge to raise at least $100 and will receive a free entry, and a special race t-shirt identifying them as a fundraising champion. Upon registration as a Guts and Butts Fundraising Champion, registrants will be given a unique link to share on social media and via email where donations can be made directly to the event.