On Thursday, the Rev. Dr. Sammie E. Jones, pastor of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in South St. Louis, met with Yolanda King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, in an American Stroke Association rally. About 200 African-American leaders from across the country attended the event at the Sheraton Delfina Santa Monica Hotel in Santa Monica, CA.
The event, part of the American Stroke Association’s Power To End Stroke campaign, gave local Stroke Ambassadors, such as Jones, the tools to bring back to their community to assist in the fight against the disease. Stroke touches African Americans at a greater rate than other ethnic groups.
“Almost everyone, especially African Americans, knows someone who has had or will have a stroke,” said King. “My beloved mother, Coretta Scott King, suffered a stroke last year. That’s why I am passionate about fighting stroke.”
African Americans have almost twice the risk of first-ever stroke compared with whites, and many don’t know that they are at-risk. Those 34-54 years-old have four times the relative risk for stroke. Stroke is the No. 3 killer in the U.S. and a leading cause of disability.
The Power to End Stroke campaign is supported nationally by the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership.
For more information, visit StrokeAssociation.org/power or call (888) 4-STROKE. For information on local events, call Brenda Johnson at (314) 692-5639.
