Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/18/2026
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Location
Live! Casino and Hotel
Categories
Living in a part of the body that is often considered taboo, colon cancer is the cancer no one likes to talk about. But when these colon cancer survivors walk the runway, they will celebrate – not conceal! They will “wear” the cause and their beauty will be defined by grit, resilience, and a glow from within. With every step, these survivors will prove they are not only still here, but they’ll boldly move forward and look fabulous!
WHO: Seven models whose lives have been impacted by colon cancer and have come together to help raise awareness, become empowered in strength, and share their inspiring stories.
WHAT: On The Runway for a Cure & Booty Ball, which promises to be a victory fashion show of beauty and confidence by colon cancer warriors
WHERE: Live! Casino & Hotel, 900 Packer Avenue, Philadelphia, Event Center Ballroom
WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday Evening, April 18, 2026
WHY: This annual gala is an awareness and fundraising event by Get Your Rear in Gear Philadelphia to support colon cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) will be diagnosed in 2026, and 55,230 people will die from the disease in the United States. CRC is the third most common cancer in the country and awareness around early detection can greatly improve survival rates and save lives. CRC is 90% treatable if found EARLY and remains one of the most PREVENTABLE cancers! CRC is now the deadliest cancer for adults under the age of 50, with cases rising sharply.
While blooming in new spring fashion, seven warriors, three of whom were diagnosed under the age of 40, will share their personal stories of how colon cancer affected each of them. All funds raised from this event will stay in the Philadelphia region to fund colon cancer education, research, and patient care.
DETAILS:
● 6 p.m. Cocktails
● 7 p.m. Fashion Show
● 7:45 p.m. Dinner
● 8:45 p.m. Live and Silent Auctions
● Followed by Dessert and Dancing
MEET SEVEN COLON CANCER SURVIVOR/THRIVER MODELS WALKING A VICTORY WALK AND WEARING SPRING FASHION ON THE RUNWAY:
Matt Jasudowich, now age 55, Phoenixville, PA, Therapeutic Area Manager for Cancer Immunotherapy/Lung Cancer at Genentech
A husband and father to two college age boys, aged 21 and 23, Matt’s health journey took an unexpected turn after he noticed intermittent blood in his stool. A follow-up colonoscopy in August 2024 revealed stage 1 colorectal cancer. At age 53, he was treated by Dr. Jeffrey Farma at Fox Chase Cancer Center. While the diagnosis was a shock, he considers it a profound blessing it was caught early. His focus now is on staying healthy and being fully present for my wife and kids, while also encouraging others to never ignore warning signs.
Ashley Symons Carpenter, age 44, Washington Township, NJ, Teacher at Williamstown High School
Ashely, a wife and mom to a 12-year-old, was diagnosed two years ago with no family history of colon cancer. Her symptoms a year earlier of blood in stool were initially dismissed by her doctor. By August 2024, she was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer at the age of 42. She was treated aggressively at Memorial Sloan Kettering, with pre-operative chemo, then surgery. She had an ileostomy when her sigmoid colon was removed and in May 2025, she had a reversal of the ostomy. Ashley named her tumor “Ivan” after the Russian fighter from Rocky Four. She was Rocky, the underdog, and stayed in the fight. Today she is slowly but avidly getting back to the gym. She is grateful to her teaching colleagues who donated time off so she could recover. As of December, she remains in remission.
Lt. Robert J. Cowden, age 40, Millsboro, DE, Delaware State Trooper
A Washington Township graduate from 2003 and a Delaware State Trooper since 2009, Bob is married with two sons, ages 13 and 9, and coaches youth football and lacrosse, serving as vice president of the Pop Warner Cape Vikings. Bob also serves with the program Delaware State Police Commanders to encourage building a positive bond between the state police and the community. With no family history, he was diagnosed with stage 3A colon cancer, including lymphovascular invasion, at 39. He was diagnosed at Seaside Gastroenterology and has been receiving Folfox chemo treatments that began in May 2025, every two weeks, at Penn, where he continues to pursue a range of supporting therapies.
Dr. Romaine Thrower, age 35, Philadelphia, PA, Senior Director of Workforce, West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WSPI)
Romaine grew up in West Philadelphia, attended Overbrook High School, where she was captain of the drill team, and earned a Doctor of Education from Millersville University. She is a mom to three children, ages 14, 8, and 3, and was diagnosed with early stage 1 colon cancer in 2022, treated with surgery at Lankenau Hospital. The year 2022 still looms large for Romaine and her family as it was the same year she gave birth to her youngest daughter and was caregiver to her husband who underwent a kidney and pancreas transplant. Her role at WPSI partners her with Penn, Drexel, and CHOP to match people with job training partnerships. She continues to serve as an adjunct instructor at Temple University, an advocate for the Byrd Cancer Foundation, and founded Elite LeadHER Consulting Group, holding bi-monthly events to share experiences around helping people and teams thrive through “purposeful, customized solutions.”
Rachel Hahn, age 40, Voorhees, NJ
Rachel was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at age 39 years old after pain landed her in the ER where a mass was discovered on her left ovary. After the devastating results of her colonoscopy, she continues to navigate extensive treatment and has turned to advocacy for others facing the disease, especially speaking on young-onset colorectal cancer, the realities of treatment, and the importance of screening, early detection, and community support. Rachel, her husband, and her three young children are deeply rooted in her South Jersey community where she says she is actively working to “raise awareness, inspire action, and help others feel less alone.” She has testified before Congress with a simple message: “Ensure patients can access life-saving treatments without financial or systemic barriers” and recently participated in the Cologuard Classic Pro-Am Golf tournament as a Colon Cancer Coalition Sponsor-a-Survivor.
Ron LaGrand Wynn Sr., age 67, Philadelphia, PA, Real Estate Broker, Berkshire Hathaway
Many years ago, Ron came from Suffolk, VA, to work in Philadelphia as a shipyard worker and to be near his mom. He has a daughter, a son, and five grandchildren, and for 15 years worked as a security guard at Jeanes Hospital in the ER, part of Temple Health System, moving to real estate sales. Ron’s uncle had been diagnosed with cancer in his 60s, so there was some family history. His symptoms of fatigue three years ago, and long-time connections with Temple Health, led him to a team at Fox Chase Cancer Center where it was discovered he had stage 4 colon cancer that had spread to his liver. He had surgery followed by chemotherapy and remains a devoted caregiver to his 87-year-old mother and special needs brother. Ron serves as deacon at ENON Tabernacle Church in East Mount Airy, involved in the “Men Know Your Numbers” annual event, focused on health screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol), prostate cancer awareness, and mental health for men of color.
Hollie Riley, age 53, Swarthmore, PA, Executive Assistant at Fairmont Partners
Hollie has been at her job for more than 30 years, has been married 24 years, and raised a son, now age 20 at West Chester University, and an 18-year-old daughter, a high school senior, who will also attend West Chester. Hollie began to experience back pain in 2019, when she was 47 years old. When the pain persisted, she went for x-rays and an MRI where a tumor was seen on her kidney. She had surgery at Penn to remove the tumor and was diagnosed with stage 1 cancer. Soon after the kidney surgery, she had new symptoms with changes in bowels, blood, and mucus. Her PCP ordered a colonoscopy and genetic testing. She was found to have Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by mutations in the FLCN gene and stage 2 colon cancer. The signs and symptoms of Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome usually do not appear until young adulthood. Her tumor markers were rising in 2021 and her cancer advanced to stage 4. That same year, she had half of her liver removed, then 12 rounds of chemo every two weeks. She continued with annual scans and will now move to scans every two years.
CONTACT: Maria Grasso, mariagrasso@