Our Mission
Our Mission: Turning Awareness Into Action
Blue Hope Heroes is a community-driven movement on the Mississippi Gulf Coast dedicated to preventing colon cancer through education, access to screening, and support for those in need.
We believe conversations save lives — and we’re walking to prove it.
Blue Hope Heroes
Our Mission
The goal of the Blue Hope Heroes is to affect awareness and response to the prevention of colon cancer by becoming a community-based organization on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We actively support the Blue Hope Fund at Gulfport Memorial Foundation to provide screening kits, colonoscopies, and after care for individuals who do not have insurance or finances to afford them. We increase knowledge of the screening process and how to access care.
Mission Statement & History
The Blue Hope Fund at Gulfport Memorial Foundation 501(c)(3) was started in March 2024 to provide financial support to assist residents of the Gulf Coast with colorectal screenings such as Cologuard test kits, colonoscopies, and after care.
In March 2024, there was a gathering of people in downtown Gulfport at a local restaurant for the “What’s Up Your BUTTerfly Fest.” It was the beginning of what will be a long-standing support group for the Blue Hope Fund… and thus the Blue Hope Heroes.
Why We Use Humor
There’s a negative stigma about colon cancer because it’s not a popular subject for conversation. But when that stigma leads to preventable deaths… that’s no laughing matter.
So we interject humor at every opportunity. If making appropriate “bathroom-humor” jokes through clothing, songs, foods, drinks, games, and walks saves lives, then our goal is met.
Our belief: The more we can talk about it, the more people will get screened — and the more lives we can save.
Blue Dress Walk of Hope (Inaugural Event)
There will be an inaugural event on March 28, 2026, again in downtown Gulfport, that will become an annual event and the primary source for fundraising each year: the Blue Dress Walk of Hope. This event focuses on increasing education about early detection through screenings.
The event will begin and end at Chandeleur Island Brewery on 14th Street, with the walk meandering through downtown streets on a Saturday morning. Blue Hope Walkers will walk, meander, sashay, saunter, glide, pose… whatever — through downtown Gulfport west of 25th Avenue / Hwy 49.
The route will be led by the Blue Men and the Grand Poop-Bah… and it will mirror the digestive tract, beginning with the Ascending Colon and ending with the Rectum.
Why This Matters Here
Mississippi leads the nation in the number of colon cancer deaths per capita, and it is being diagnosed in younger generations more frequently. Colon cancer can be familial — so families need awareness and access to screenings.
- First screening age is now 45
- Age 40 for descendants of parents with colon cancer
- Awareness + screening access = lives saved
How Funds Are Used
We will be asking businesses and individuals to help with this first-time event. All funds generated will go directly to Gulfport Memorial Foundation into the Blue Hope Fund.
During March, there will be other activities for fun, education, and fundraising — all supporting the mission.
Blue Hope Heroes Is Open to All
The Blue Hope Heroes group is open to everyone — colon cancer survivors, family members, friends, medical professionals… basically anyone who shares an interest in improving prevention, awareness, and access to screening on the Gulf Coast.
Join the Mission
If you can walk, share, volunteer, sponsor, or simply start a conversation — you can help save lives. Let’s build a stronger, more informed Mississippi Gulf Coast together.