Fest for Life
(Baton Rouge, La.) Free cancer screenings, entertainment and food are all on tap for The Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins’ Fest for Life, A Minority Cancer Awareness Event set for Saturday, April 14 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Bonne Carre Business Center, 7173 Florida Boulevard.
Fest for Life, now in its fifth year, is a free health event recognizing Minority Cancer Awareness Week, and includes fun activities for the entire family. Free cancer screenings include breast, prostate, skin, colorectal and oral cavity, along with blood pressure and glucose checks. Honorary Chairman of Fest for Life, Mayor Kip Holden, will be on hand to make remarks and meet constituents. The event also includes free food, music and activities for kids. All community members are welcome.
All screenings are available to those who do not have a doctor and who have not been screened for cancer in the past 12 months, as well as for people who do not have insurance or considered to be underinsured. Appointments are required for breast cancer screenings only. To make an appointment please call (225) 215-1234 or (888) 616-4687.
“Although cancer affects men and women of every age, race, ethnic background and economic class, the disease has a disproportionate impact on minorities and the economically disadvantaged,” said Mayor Holden. “Raising awareness about this disturbing fact is a step toward saving lives. Early detection, through yearly screenings, can find cancer early before it has a chance to spread, increasing the odds of successful treatment.”
The Cancer Program thanks the following sponsors for their support of Fest for Life: Karnival Krewe de Louisiane’, Hall Davis and Sons, USAgencies, Amerigroup, Cox Communications, Associated Food Stores and Woman’s Hospital.
The Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins is the most comprehensive cancer program in the region offering patients the convenience of receiving high-quality, advanced cancer care in one location, close to home. The Cancer Program offers surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and has been accredited by The American College of Surgeons since 1992 – the gold-standard for community-based cancer care. This program is a participant in the prestigious National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP).