COVINGTON, La. – Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s popular Live Well community event is set to return to the Northshore. Live Well Northshore, a free early detection screening and education opportunity, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Covington Trailhead (419 N. New Hampshire St.). This no-cost community event is designed to provide residents an opportunity to take advantage of four different types of cancer screenings, including breast, prostate, colorectal and skin cancer. Participants can also access blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose checks.
In addition to these important cancer screenings and health services, there will be food, music and fun activities for the entire family.
“We are looking forward to returning to Covington to host our signature screening event, which is always met with tremendous excitement,” said Eryn Brannagan, Prevention on the Go regional manager, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “We encourage Northshore residents to take advantage of the convenience offered through our Prevention on the Go program.”
At last year’s event, the Cancer Center conducted 182 screenings among 97 participants, including:
- 46 breast screenings
- 55 colorectal screenings
- 26 prostate screenings
- 55 skin screenings
The success of Live Well Northshore is made possible annually thanks to the generosity of the Ben Blanchard Memorial Foundation, which is a committed and steadfast partner to Mary Bird Perkins, where Blanchard received a portion of his cancer treatment.
“Live Well Northshore would not be possible without the dedication of The Ben Blanchard Memorial Foundation,” said Erica Kelt, director of development, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Covington. ”Knowing the importance of early detection, and with the Cancer Center’s mission closely tied to its own, the Ben Blanchard Memorial Foundation goes to great lengths to support expanding access to life-saving resources across our community.”
“With Ben’s generous spirit in mind, it is a privilege to support Mary Bird Perkins and Live Well Northshore,” said Chris Blanchard, president of the foundation board. “We know just how important annual screenings and other preventative measures are to improving survivorship and lessening the burden of cancer, and we want to make sure residents across our community have the opportunity to take advantage of the Cancer Center’s services.”
Appointments are required for all screenings, however, walkups will be accomodated. If an abnormality is found, a nurse navigator will assist screening participants with next steps, also at no cost. To make an appointment, please call (985) 287-5775.
About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for more than 50 years. The cancer care organization provides care at 10 centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Gonzales, Hammond, Houma, Opelousas, Slidell, and Natchez, Mississippi, and its service area encompasses southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi regions. Mary Bird Perkins has a strategic affiliation with OneOncology and the largest radiation and medical oncology groups from across the area including exclusive partnerships with Southeastern Louisiana Radiation Oncology Group, which provides radiation therapy throughout Mary Bird Perkins’ service areas, Northshore Oncology Associates, serving St. Tammany and Washington Parishes, specifically the communities of Covington and Slidell and Louisiana Hematology Oncology Associates, which services the Greater Baton Rouge area. For more information, please visit www.marybird.org.