Rochester Cancer Survivor Revives City's Annual 5K Race

Robert Stricklin remembers exactly where he was on October 17, 2019, when doctors told him he had colon cancer at age 41. Five years later, he's cancer-free and channeling that journey into bringing hope back to his hometown.

Stricklin recently returned to Rochester after two decades in North Carolina, where he participated in Get Your Rear In Gear 5K events that raised money for colorectal cancer patients. He discovered that Rochester's own version of the race, which ran successfully for 12 years, stopped in 2019 when the pandemic hit.

Now he's bringing it back. Registration is open for the July 11 race at Cascade Lake Park, with funds going directly to local families facing colorectal cancer.

The money supports "cost of cancer" grants for unexpected hardships that pile up during treatment. Stricklin recalls a North Carolina recipient whose husband was battling colon cancer when she lost her job and got in a car accident. The $1,000 grant helped them survive those layered crises.

Why This Inspires

Stricklin's advocacy goes beyond one day of racing. He says it took five years after his diagnosis to realize how crucial mental health support was to his recovery. That understanding drives him to create community connections year-round.

His own treatment included radiation, chemotherapy, surgery to remove a tumor, and six months living with an ileostomy bag. Through it all, he learned the importance of speaking up about symptoms, especially for people under 45 who aren't yet eligible for routine screenings.

Colorectal cancer rates are climbing among younger adults. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends screening starting at 45, but Stricklin knows many people his age ignore warning signs like stomach pain, sudden weight loss, rectal bleeding, or lasting digestive changes.

He encourages anyone experiencing symptoms to overcome the embarrassment and talk to their doctor. If that feels too awkward, reach out to a survivor first. Stricklin promises that anyone who has walked this path will have that conversation without hesitation.

"It's your life," he said. "Valuing your life should allow you to have that conversation."

At Charlotte's Get Your Rear In Gear event last year, 1,600 people showed up to walk, run, and support families facing this diagnosis. Stricklin is now building an event committee in Rochester with survivors, patients, doctors, and community members who want to recreate that sense of collective care.

Rochester's race won't just raise awareness during March, which is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month—it will create lasting support for families when they need it most.