As the owners of Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia, the Marriner family has stayed very busy over the past decade.

After purchasing Manor Hill Farm in Howard County in 2011, the family went to work on launching a brewery on its 54-acre property and opening a tavern in Historic Ellicott City. With a total of four entities under its portfolio, the family has had little time to focus on themselves, as Chief Executive Officer Rachael Mull can attest to.

That’s why in 2017 – when Rachael was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 39 – time stopped as the family received the shocking news.

“When I was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer, I was a mom under 40 running several small businesses. It is very easy to ignore signs that something might be wrong with your body when you are trying to take care of everything else,” said Rachael. “It can be a very stressful and exhausting time of life.”

Rachael was initially diagnosed with kidney stones (which could have explained her abdominal pains and unexplained bleeding). But while removing the stones, her doctors spotted a growth in her colon.

She turned to Johns Hopkins Hospital for two years of treatment and surgeries and was given a clean bill of health in 2019. Now six years cancer free, the survivor encourages everyone – especially young people – to practice self-care and pay attention to their bodies.

“My advice is to not ignore any potential warning signs, and should you be diagnosed with something, it is okay to rely on all the people around you to get through it,” said Rachael. “It is also easy to fall into the trap of ‘I don’t have the time or money to take care of myself in a preventative way.’ I learned the hard way how important it is to make time for self-care.”

As Manor Hill Brewing approaches its 10th anniversary this year, the family-owned business celebrates not only its professional successes, but also their own personal achievements. The business is giving back by sponsoring the Colorectal Cancer Awareness 5k in Fallston this month, hosting a ‘Screw Cancer, Brew Hope’ event at the farm later this year, and launching an inaugural Wellness Day this spring. The family-friendly event will focus on exercise, eating well, and making healthy choices for the body and mind.

As one of the leading causes of death for men and women under the age of 50, colorectal cancer impacts more than 150,000 people throughout the United States every year. Take the time to read the following tips to stay informed on preventative practices.

Tips to protect yourself:

• Take a cancer risk assessment. The American Cancer society recently launched a CancerRisk360 tool to provide an easy and accessible first step for people to understand their individual risks.
• Get routine colorectal screenings starting at age 45, or earlier if you have an increased risk.
• Ask your doctor about genetic testing and if it’s right for you.
• Maintain a healthy diet and a physically active lifestyle.

Ways to get involved:

• Encourage your loved ones to get screened.
• Volunteer with local organizations and participate in community events. The American Cancer Society in Maryland has several resources available for individuals going through treatments and those looking to support others.
• Support organizations making an impact. The Ulman Foundation offers programs and services for kids and young adults going through treatments. Donations can make a meaningful difference to those battling cancer.

Promote local life science companies:

• Spread the word about businesses working on therapies or preventative measures to eradicate cancer completely.
  • Baltimore’s Irazú Oncology is looking to “develop the next generation of cancer vaccines,” specifically in the colorectal cancer realm. Irazu is working with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, to license an immunotherapeutic technology that attacks and destroys tumor cells.
  • With help from Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, the now acquired Thrive Earlier Detection aimed to create a blood test for early cancer detection. Thrive is now part of Exact Sciences, the company behind the well-known colorectal cancer screening test Cologuard, and could enhance Exact Sciences’ platform with its Maryland-made technology.