A fundraiser in the United States was successfully launched to replace an inflatable colon worth $4,000 (around P214,000) stolen earlier this month.

Colon Cancer Coalition proudly announced that they were able to raise funds enough to buy not one, but two inflatable colons, to replace the one stolen on Oct. 18. The stolen inflatable colon was pilfered in Brookside, Missouri after it was loaded to be transported and displayed at a breast cancer run/walk 5-kilometer event in Kansas City.

The stolen colon, which weighs 150 pounds and is about ten feet long, was purchased by the coalition in 2017. Prior to the theft, the said colon resided at the University of Kansas Cancer Center where the educational tool was used to promote screenings, education and awareness for colon and rectal cancer.

Citing the famous saying, “Every cloud has a silver lining,” the coalition noted that the incident brought about a positive prospect — after the #StolenColon went viral, reaching over 186 million people, colon cancer became the talk of the town.

“The colon’s ‘job’ is to raise awareness and to start conversations about colon cancer,” the coalition said in a statement. “To that end, the colon has [succeeded]. There are more people talking about colon cancer today then there were yesterday.”

Despite having raising $11,023.63 (about P592,000) as of Thursday, Oct. 25, the coalition is still hoping that the stolen inflatable colon will be returned.

“Even with the replacements coming, we are still hoping for our stolen colon to be returned,” Colon Cancer Coalition said in a statement. “We want to hear all the stories it has to tell, then give it a bath, provide any needed repairs, and put it back on the road to raise even more awareness about colon cancer screening and save more lives!” JB

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