Jackson’s Ribs & Tips Could Save Your Life!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2007
Contact
Candi Crause, Interim Director of Infectious Disease
(217) 531-5372 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Jackson’s Ribs & Tips Could Save Your Life!
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Partners with Jackson’s Ribs & Tips to Offer Free Prostate Screenings and Food to High Risk Population
Champaign, IL – Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) has partnered with Jackson’s Ribs & Tips to provide access to free prostate screenings for men over the age of 40. On Thursday, September 20, 2007 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm, CUPHD will be at Jackson’s Ribs & Tips, located on First Street in Champaign, offering free on-site prostate screenings. Participants will receive a coupon for free food at Jackson’s Ribs & Tips. Breast cancer information will also be available for women over the age of 35 through the Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program facilitated by CUPHD.
CUPHD hopes that by offering free prostate screenings at the popular local gathering place, that more community members will take advantage of CUPHD’s various screening and health services, especially the high risk population, African American men. African American men often avoid getting screened for prostate cancer longer than other ethnic groups, and African American men have higher prostate cancer mortality rates than any other group. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prostate cancer effects 1 in 6 men, and prostate cancer death rates are about 2.5 times higher among African American men than other ethnic groups.
“Many men are uncomfortable with traditional testing methods, and this causes them to avoid screening until it is apparent that something is wrong. At the point when symptoms become obvious, it may be too late for treatment to be effective.” said Candi Crause, Interim Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Management at CUPHD. “CUPHD uses a modern screening method that relies solely on a simple blood test. It is easy, effective and clients will have their results mailed to them within 4-6 weeks.” CUPHD will privately perform all tests on their new state-of-the-art mobile unit outside Jackson’s Ribs & Tips. Citizens are encouraged to participate in the quick test or to stop to meet the CUPHD team and receive information on any of the many other CUPHD programs and services, including breast cancer information from the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program.
For those interested parties that may be unable to attend the event at Jackson’s Ribs & Tips, CUPHD offers a free Men’s Clinic every Monday from 4:00pm – 5:30pm at 201 West Kenyon Road. No appointment is necessary. For more information on the Men’s Clinic, please call 217-239-7827.
For more information about prostate screenings and other CUPHD programs and services, call 217-352-7961 or visit the CUPHD website at www.c-uphd.org.
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