A sister’s promise: Turning grief into a mission to raise colon cancer awareness

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month—but for some families, the fight is year-round.

For Natasha Mathias, it’s personal. In photos, you’ll often see her standing beside her twin sister, Natalie Marc Surpris—two smiles that once mirrored each other. Today, those images carry a deeper meaning. They are reminders of love, loss, and a mission that refuses to fade.

“I know she’s proud every time,” Mathias told NBC6. “Because it’s not easy… but I know she’s proud every time we get up and raise awareness.”

Natalie was just 38 years old when she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. At first, her symptoms were believed to be something less serious, fibroids. By the time doctors discovered the truth, the disease had already advanced. Four years later, she was gone.

She was 42.

What followed could have been silence. Instead, it became purpose. Mathias turned her grief into action, co-founding We Stand Together, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and supporting others facing the same diagnosis. One of its most visible efforts: the annual Blue Hope Colon Cancer Awareness 5K.

“We started the 5K in 2021 as a way to honor my sister,” Mathias explains.

That urgency is backed by data. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is rising at an alarming rate among younger adults, increasing by about 3% each year in people ages 20 to 49. Once considered a disease that primarily affected older adults, it is now being diagnosed more frequently in people in their 30s and 40s.

Doctors say the shift is impossible to ignore. Dr. Omar Llaguna, a surgical oncologist with Memorial Healthcare System, has seen the change firsthand.

“Colon cancer rates are on the rise, but more importantly, it’s on the rise in younger patients. We’re seeing more people in their 40s and 50s, and even younger,” he said.

Because of that trend, screening guidelines have changed. Colonoscopies are now recommended starting at age 45, instead of 50. While no single cause has been identified, lifestyle factors may play a role.

“Over the last 40 to 50 years, there’s been a dramatic shift in what we eat,” Llaguna said.

The challenge is that early stages often come with no warning signs. By the time symptoms appear, the disease may already be advanced—just as it was for Natalie.

That’s why Mathias continues to speak out, even on the hardest days.

The 6th Annual Blue Hope Colon Cancer Awareness 5K takes place April 4 at Miramar Regional Park, bringing together survivors, families, and advocates in a shared mission of hope and prevention.

The event continues to grow each year—just like the message behind it: get screened, know the signs and don’t wait.