Did you know more than 18,000 African Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer each year? Unfortunately, this community also has higher colon cancer death rates than any other racial group. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Screening saves lives and there’s no time like the present, so we’ve teamed up with the National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) to launch Now is the Time—our new church-based initiative that’s all about preventing colon cancer by increasing screening rates among African Americans. With Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. joining as Honorary Chair, we’re prepared to tackle this issue head on.
Now is the Time will kick off on June 14 with Colon Cancer Prevention Sunday at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. The service will feature a health sermon on preventing colon cancer by Pastor Perry Simmons, Jr. and Reverend Anthony Evans, President of NBCI. Congressman Payne will also share some inspirational words.
More than three hundred New Jersey churches will also participate in the launch, but we’re not stopping there. We’ll continue to preach the importance of prevention at many churches throughout New Jersey and remind everyone that now is the time! And the message is catching on—just take a look at this NJTV News video about colon cancer rates for African Americans to learn more about why this initiative is so important.
Don’t forget, the Colon Cancer Alliance serves as a source of information about colon health. If you have additional questions about colon cancer screening or are in need of support, please contact our free Helpline at (877) 422-2030. We’re here to help.