The giant inflatable colon on display in Gordon Commons Monday aimed to dump on colon cancer by spreading awareness on campus.

The 12-foot-long, 10-foot-high and 10-foot-wide colon stood in the Overture room at Gordon Commons from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as part of the week-long “Strollin Colon” event.

The University of Wisconsin’s Carbone Cancer Center is hosting the event in collaboration with UW Digestive Health Center for Colon Cancer Awareness month in March. Other inflatable colons will be on display in Madison throughout the week.

“They’re a bizarre concept but they build awareness,” UW Hospitals spokesperson Kathy Schultz said. “They make people stop and notice and ask questions.”

Schultz said doctors recommend getting a colonoscopy at age 50, but those with a family history of colon cancer should get tested earlier. She said students should also be aware, so they can tell their parents to get tested.

Schultz said although the “Strollin’ Colon” did not see as high of a student turnout as she would like, some local celebrities did stop by. She said UW football coach Gary Andersen paid a visit just in time.

“He turns 50 on Wednesday, so we got him all set up,” Schultz said.

Athletics Director Barry Alvarez, Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison) and area mayors were also in attendance, she said.

If you missed your chance to see the colon, it will on display at the Verona Public Library Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., as well as other locations throughout the week.