NEW ORLEANS – EXCELth Family Health Centers are hosting “A Crucial Catch Day,” today, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, a community health event offering free breast cancer education and family-friendly activities for participants of all ages, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The participating EXCELth Family Health Centers include locations at 4422 General Meyer Ave., Suite 103 (Algiers), and 9900 Lake Forest Blvd. (New Orleans East).
This event is made possible through the National Football League’s A Crucial Catch Initiative, which provides funding to support increased breast cancer education and screening resources in underserved communities through the American Cancer Society.
The first 50 women who attend will receive a free T-shirt and tote bag. EXCELth and American Cancer Society staff will be providing women with breast cancer education and information about opportunities for low- or no-cost breast cancer screenings.
New Orleans City Council member Nadine Ramsey, a two-time breast cancer survivor, will visit the Algiers location at 10:00 a.m. to visit with attendees and share her message about the importance of cancer screenings and education.
As part of its Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE) initiative, the American Cancer Society has awarded a $50,000 grant to EXCELth Primary Care Network for a second year to continue efforts to provide education, outreach and navigation, and help individuals access breast cancer screenings in the New Orleans community. New Orleans is one of 32 cities to have a grant recipient now focused on reducing the unequal burden of cancer by educating women on the importance of regular mammograms.
Since 2012, CHANGE grants funded by the NFL have been awarded to community health system partners to provide education, outreach, navigation and access to breast cancer screening within communities experiencing an unequal burden of the disease. These community partners have provided more than 260,000 outreach and education engagements and have contributed to more than 120,000 breast cancer screenings provided at low or no cost. This life-changing work continues in 2016 with the goal to provide breast cancer education and screening resources to more women. The Society’s vision is a world free from the pain and suffering of breast cancer and all cancers, and prevention and early detection programs such as the CHANGE grant program helps to eliminate breast cancer health disparities.
The NFL’s A Crucial Catch initiative is funded by the NFL and its fans and partners, with the majority of the contribution coming from the sale of Breast Cancer Awareness-identified pink merchandise and also via the NFL Auction website. The American Cancer Society is the sole beneficiary of the net proceeds from merchandise sales and auctions. The NFL does not profit from the sale or auction of pink merchandise.
