Published on June 4, 2012
Nebraska Hospital Awarded $5,000 Grant and a visit from the Prevent Cancer Super Colon™
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 4, 2012
MEDIA CONTACT:
Liona Chan
(703) 519-2107
Liona.Chan@preventcancer.org
(Alexandria, Va.) — The Good Samaritan Hospital of Kearney, Neb. is the 2012 winner of the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Screening Saves Lives Challenge. The national competition is an opportunity for organizations to submit their best community-based colorectal cancer screening and awareness initiatives. This small energetic hospital in rural Nebraska will use their $5,000 Foundation grant to hold a “Family Fun Day” focused on the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer.
“Family Fun Day,” a community-wide event, will feature educational presentations and materials, a “fun run” and a visit from the Prevent Cancer Super Colon™, a 20-foot interactive educational exhibit. The grant will also help the hospital continue to offer free colorectal cancer screenings during the month of March. Good Samaritan Hospital currently provides specialty care to over 320,000 residents of central Nebraska and northern Kansas. The goal for this project is to provide educational services to 3,000 individuals and screening services to 2,000 individuals.
“We are thrilled and honored to receive the Prevent Cancer grant—Nebraska has one of the highest incidence and mortality rates in the United States,” said Dana Welsh, program representative at Good Samaritan Hospital. “We feel that it is essential for us educate people about the importance of prevention and early detection and this grant will allow us to do that and further enhance our existing annual Colorectal Screening Program.”
Despite being one of the most preventable types of cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer in the U.S. with over 143,000 people expected to be diagnosed with the disease in 2012. This year’s Screening Saves Lives Challenge theme was “families” and 19 organizations from across the country submitted proposals. After the public voted for their favorite projects online, an external review committee determined the winners from the top third.
“The applications demonstrate both the need in the diverse communities for colorectal cancer awareness and screening, and the impact of the community projects,” said Erica Childs Warner, Director of Evaluation and Outreach at the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “We are proud to support the important cancer prevention work of the Good Samaritan Hospital in Nebraska and recognize the valuable initiatives of all the 2012 applicants.”
ScreeningSavesLives.org contains community discussion boards, learning tools and sharing opportunities to raise awareness and promote an open dialogue about colorectal cancer. The Prevent Cancer Foundation continues to work toward raising awareness, increasing screening rates and promoting healthy living to ultimately reduce the death toll of this preventable cancer.
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About The Prevent Cancer Foundation:
Founded in 1985, the Prevent Cancer Foundation is one of the nation’s leading health organizations that has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence. The Foundation seeks to Stop Cancer Before It Starts! Since its inception, the Foundation has provided more than $125 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education, advocacy and community outreach nationwide.
For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.
