South Carolina gastroenterologists are giving colorectal cancer the fight of a lifetime.

During March, 12 practices throughout the state participated in the National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Program by providing colonoscopies at no cost to individuals in our community who are uninsured. About 140 free screenings were performed.

Gastroenterology Associates, the largest gastroenterology group in South Carolina, performed nearly 30 colonoscopies for members of their community.

"We helped people who otherwise wouldn't have been helped," said Dr. Stephen Yarborough, a physician with Gastroenterology Associates.

"We prevented cancer. One patient, if he didn't have cancer, he was close to it. The test, a colonoscopy, is not nearly as bad as people perceive it to be. It is a low risk, preventative measure, which is much better than having to treat it."

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in South Carolina and the United States. In 2009, over 2,000 cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed in South Carolina and about 800 people died from this disease. However, only about half of the people who are at risk for this deadly cancer are being adequately screened.

"The most important message is that colorectal cancer can be prevented!" said Dr. March Seabrook, governor to the American College of Gastroenterology for South Carolina and past president of the South Carolina Gastroenterology Association.

How can you prevent colon cancer? Dr. Seabrook reports that the preferred strategy for colorectal cancer prevention is a screening colonoscopy, a test that can detect and remove polyps before they turn into cancer.

"The likelihood of a single individual developing colorectal cancer is between 5-6 percent, but unlike prostate or breast cancer, we can prevent colon cancer," Dr. Seabrook said. "We can make that number closer to zero. And that's from effective screening."

A mother of four in Africa got a boost to her tomato and onion business thanks to Mount Pleasant and Isle of Palms-based Ikon Financial Group.

Every time the local mortgage company processes a loan, they're helping the world's entrepreneurs get access to funds through a partnership with Kiva.org. The 501c3 nonprofit organization's mission is to connect people through lending to help alleviate poverty.

As a way to thank their clients and make their mark on helping the world, Ikon makes a donation to fund a micro-loan from the company's proceeds of every loan closing.

Clients are able to see who they have helped and monitor that person's progress in paying back the loans.

To date, Ikon funded five different micro-loans, which have helped provide dressmaking supplies, stock a fruit and vegetable stand, purchase fabric and stock clothing for sale. Once loans are repaid, Ikon will re-loan that money to help other entrepreneurs.

The mother of four, Kayi Kanyi, 42, who lives in Kpalimé, Togo, requested to use her $650 loan to boost her tomato and onion business, which she has had for four years.

The average annual income in Togo is $1700, and she says she wants to use her profit to become an international seller of onions and tomatoes.

She's already made one repayment to her loan and expects to have her entire loan repaid by March 2011.

For more on Ikon's micro-loans program, visit www.ikonfg.com or call (843) 416-3686.

Stephanie and Ron Bastian, owners of Mount Pleasant's PostNet Neighborhood Business Center, announced that customer Brian Carroll, owner of Marine Marketing Group Inc., was one of five winners in PostNet's nationwide My PostNet Loves Me Contest.

Carroll won for his story of how PostNet, at 1985 Riviera Drive, saved the day by helping him complete an important printing job for a client. Carroll and the Bastians will both receive $250 gift cards.

Carroll relies on the PostNet team to fulfill many of his customer's printing orders so he can focus on sales.

His winning entry explained how he was particularly pleased with one job that the SC114 team proofed, printed, folded, boxed and shipped on his behalf in a matter of hours, all with professional expertise and a can-do attitude.

"I am proud to say that I use PostNet for handling my business," Carroll wrote in his nomination.

"They make it easy for me to sell, because that is what I do best.

"Because of the hard work and effort that they put forth, I can ensure my clients that they will get a great job every time."

The contest is a centerpiece of the company's third annual We Love Our Customers promotion, which launched in February and is designed to thank loyal customers and showcase PostNet's caring, personal service.

Throughout the month, customers were invited to submit stories detailing how their local PostNet helps them with their business needs or projects.

Over 670 nominations were submitted, and the five winning stories are featured on PostNet.com.

PostNet SC114 has been part of the Mount Pleasant community since December of 2007.

Gilligan's Restaurants' partnership with the SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) resulted in more than 1,400 bushels of local oyster shell being recycled this past oyster season. SCDNR will place the shell back into local waters to assist in the formation of new oyster beds.

This is the first year Gilligan's has participated in the shell recycling program. Ben Dyar with SCDNRs Oyster Shell Recycling & Planting Program and Office of Fisheries Management "couldn't be happier with our partnership this year. Gilligan's has been a great asset for the recycling program."

Only two other area restaurants serviced by SCDNR came close to the amounts Gilligan's recycled, each totaling less than 850 bushels. Every other participating restaurant came in below 200 bushels.

For more information on Gilligan's Restaurants and their commitment to sustainable seafood practices, visit their website (www.gilligans.net).

Magwood Seafood, best known for their leadership and preservation of the local Shem Creek shrimping industry, has now filled their 2-year-old drystack facility with boat customers to nearly 100 percent capacity.

Fifteen months ago, the Magwood family's 78-boat storage facility was under 15 percent occupancy, and in danger of economic failure.

Today, Magwood has miraculously reached 98 percent capacity, an accelerated turnaround that Jarred Sewell, dockmaster at Magwood Marina, credits to strategic customer service, strict safety and security policies, competitively-priced marina services, and a proactive marketing and public relations campaign that informed the entire local community about smaller boats - and fresher shrimp.

The National Institute of Fire Safety and Training announced that Robert Knowles of Mount Pleasant is the first NIFAST Certified inspector in the Charleston area.

Following certification, Knowles said, "We offer so much more than checking smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. The inspection process educates the homeowner or tenant, not only about fire prevention, but also about fire survival.

"Knowing exactly what to do in the seconds you have to do it, saves lives. We teach people how to prepare an escape plan and practice it with your kids."

Contact Robert Knowles at 843-991-8095 or bob@knowlesinspection.com

South Carolina Bank and Trust announced that it will provide Lowcountry Housing Trust (LHT) with a $100,000 below market loan to assist with meeting LHT's capital goal.

These funds will be utilized to finance affordable housing development in Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley and Georgetown County.

"Being a good corporate citizen is very important to SCBT," said Arthur P. Swanson, SCBT Charleston regional president.

"Our involvement with this program and with the Lowcountry Housing Trust will further the local affordable housing initiative."

"We are excited to be a part of this valuable program to bring affordable housing to help make the dream of homeownership a reality," said Nate Barber, senior vice president, SCBT.

LHT seeks funding and investments from public and private sources to builds it loan pool to provide its financing to construct and rehabilitate affordable housing in the region.

LHT is currently seeking over $1M in investments from financial institutions; SCBT has been a long time partner of the Trust and is one of LHT's first investors.