Carlton's Cameron Wood and Levi Casboult visited Ballarat on Thursday, to speak to staff at Mars about the importance of regular screening to help prevent bowel cancer.  

Wood and Casboult have signed on as ambassadors for the Jodi Lee Foundation, which is one of Carlton's community partners.

The players were joined by the organisation's founder Nick Lee, who lost his wife Jodi to bowel cancer at the age of 41.

Wood said he was compelled to become involved and help raise awareness after hearing Nick's story.

"Nick came and spoke to our club last year ahead of a match to help raise awareness for the Jodi Lee Foundation and I was really moved by what his family had been through," Wood said.

"I then shared a photo through social media for the Jodi Lee Foundation's #iknowsome1 campaign and I was surprised by how many people contacted me saying someone they know, their family, their friends, or someone they work with has had bowel cancer, so I wanted to get involved."

Bowel cancer is Australia's second biggest cancer killer, claiming 5000 lives each year.

This year an estimated 17,000 Australians will be diagnosed with the illness, but early detection can result in the successful treatment of up to 90% of cases.

Carlton's joint major partner Mars Chocolate Australia is participating in the Foundation's Corporate Bowel Screening Program to improve the health and wellbeing of the company's 480 associates.

For more information about the Jodi Lee Foundation's Corporate Bowel Screening Program, call (08) 8343 7222.