TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The PGA TOUR Champions professionals playing in this week's tournament haven't officially teed off yet, but the Cologuard Classic is already giving back.

At today's Pro-Am event, representatives from the Tucson Conquistadores and Cologuard presented a $50,000 check to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation to help raise colon cancer awareness and support the fight against cancer.

Assisting in the check presentation was MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a participant in Wednesday's Pro-Am event and friend of Cologuard Classic ambassador and PGA TOUR Champions player, Jerry Kelly.

"Coach Lombardi died of colon cancer nearly 50 years ago, and it remains the second leading cancer killer in America," said Ben Haas, president of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. "We're honored to receive this support, which will be instrumental in our ongoing fight against cancer.  We thank Cologuard, the Conquistadores, the PGA TOUR Champions and the fans at this week's Cologuard Classic for all they are doing to promote colon cancer awareness."

More to come
The check is the first of what could be two the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation receives this week. Saturday's Cologuard Classic 50-50 Hole in One Challenge could double that money. If a PGA TOUR Champions player makes a hole-in-one on the 16^th hole on Saturday, $100,000 will be donated to charity. The funds will be split two ways, with $50,000 going to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation and $50,000 to the First Tee of Tucson.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE – CHECK PRESENTATION PHOTO ATTACHED.
Caption:  Tucson Conquistadores and Cologuard present $50,000 check from the Cologuard Classic to MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Ben Haas and Paul Soltwedel of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. (From L-R: Jose Rincon, president, Tucson Conquistadores; Jerry Kelly; Ben Haas; Aaron Rodgers; Paul Soltwedel; Kevin Conroy, chief executive officer, and Maneesh Arora, chief operating officer, Cologuard.)

Contact:  Scott Larrivee, Exact Sciences, 608-535-8673, [email protected]

About the Cologuard Classic
Taking place Feb. 28 through March 4, 2018 at the Omni Tucson National Resort the Cologuard Classic is hosted by the Tucson Conquistadores. This is the first year of the Cologuard Classic, named after Wisconsin-based Exact Sciences' noninvasive at-home colon cancer screening test for average risk individuals 50 years or older, and the fourth year the Conquistadores have partnered with the PGA TOUR Champions. Since their inception in 1962, the Conquistadores have contributed more than $35 million to youth athletic programs in-and-around Tucson. Coinciding with March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, tournament week will feature numerous events to raise awareness for the disease.

About Cologuard
Cologuard was approved by the FDA in August 2014 and results from Exact Sciences' prospective 90-site, point-in-time, 10,000-patient pivotal trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in March 2014. Cologuard is included in the American Cancer Society's (2014) colorectal cancer screening guidelines and the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2016) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2016). Cologuard is indicated to screen adults of either sex, 50 years or older, who are at average risk for colorectal cancer. Cologuard is not for everyone and is not a replacement for diagnostic colonoscopy or surveillance colonoscopy in high-risk individuals. False positives and false negatives do occur. Any positive test result should be followed by a diagnostic colonoscopy. Following a negative result, patients should continue participating in a screening program at an interval and with a method appropriate for the individual patient. Cologuard performance when used for repeat testing has not been evaluated or established. For more information about Cologuard, visit www.cologuardtest.com. Rx Only.

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SOURCE EXACT SCIENCES CORP