As brothers, Ahmad and Jahmar Kelly share more than just a last name and a close bond – they also share a family history that puts them at higher risk for prostate cancer. Knowing this, the brothers attended Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s Barbershop Bash on Dec. 6 at Cloyd’s Barber School in Monroe to get their first-ever cancer screenings.
“Health is wealth,” said Jahmar. “It’s important to stay on top of your health and get checked. Mary Bird Perkins makes it so easy.”
Generously presented by the United Health Foundation, Barbershop Bash screening events started in 2024 to raise awareness of the risks of prostate cancer and colorectal cancer and highlight the importance of getting screened, especially among African American men who have higher incidence and mortality rates compared to other racial groups.
These free screening events are hosted at locally owned and operated barbershops – culturally significant and familiar places for many men in the African American community to gather.
This year’s Barbershop Bash Delta event in Monroe was a success – with a total of 91 screenings taking place. This is a 63% increase over 2024’s event with 54 total screenings.
Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility for United Health Group and President of the United Health Foundation Anne Yau was in attendance as well this year, getting to see firsthand the work that goes into making each Barbershop Bash a success.
“We are thrilled to support what’s happening here today,” said Yau. “For us as a foundation, we know that better health doesn’t happen alone – you need friends, you need community and you need support. And that’s what today is all about.”
Overall in 2025, the Prevention on the Go team is only three screenings shy of the 440 total Barbershop Bash screenings completed in 2024 – marking another successful year of the event series. These Barbershop Bash screenings represent 45% of all prostate screenings Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center conducts annually – a significant fact that highlights the importance of bringing these free cancer screenings directly into the community. This level of reach and impact would not be possible without the partnership and trust of organizations such as the United Health Foundation and for that, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is forever grateful.
To learn more about our Prevention on the Go program, including upcoming free cancer screenings in your area, click here.
