Officials announced a public health campaign Wednesday against colon cancer to honor Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson, who died of the disease suddenly earlier this year. Thompson's wife is lending her voice to the effort, the first time she has spoken publicly about his illness. Borough reporter Jeanine Ramirez reports.

"I have two children now who are 9 and 12 that I have to raise by myself because Kenny is not here anymore," said Lu-Shawn Thompson.

Lu-Shawn Thompson spoke Wednesday about life without her husband Ken Thompson. The Brooklyn District Attorney lost his battle with cancer in October — just 6 months after he was diagnosed.

"At first we were really hopeful that he would live but as time went on it went from colon and it was in the brain," she said.

She says it was so aggressive it just continued to spread throughout the 50-year-old's body. Now Thompson's wife is stepping into the spotlight to raise awareness about colorectal cancer screenings.

"I get super nervous when I have to speak in public, but I know that this is really super important," she said.

She joined City Councilman Robert Cornegy at Woodhull Hospital in Bushwick, to launch The Gift of Life campaign. It will offer free colon cancer screenings at 18 city hospitals — regardless of health insurance. More than $1,200 city residents die each year from colon cancer, the second deadliest after lung cancer.

"We are doing everything that we can at Woodhull to make sure that we make colon cancer screening available to all members of the community," said Woodhull CEO Gregory Calliste.

"Through the gift of life campaign, those without healthcare still have a champion in Kenneth Thompson," said Councilman Cornegy.

Acting DA Eric Gonzalez, who took over after Thompson's death said his office will also be proactive getting the message out.

"This is something we can do together to drive down the rates," Gonzalez said. "It's particularly a problem in communities of color."

"I want to lend my voice not only as a public official but also as a black man in this community to stay that this is something that's absolutely necessary," said Councilman Cornegy.

In continuing Thompson's legacy, Cornegy says the City Council will issue a proclamation declaring March 14th Ken Thompson Day.

March 14th is Thompson's birthday. And March is national colon cancer awareness month.