The Empowerment Network (TEN) of St. Louis, one of the largest prostate cancer awareness support groups in the Midwest, and Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers are celebrating men who are beating the disease with a Blue Tie Gala, Saturday, April 9 at the Gateway Classic Sports Foundation, located at 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.
The party gets started at 6:30 p.m.
“This is not just a party; it’s not just a dance. It’s a celebration and it’s a victory for prostate cancer survivors and for the men in our community who have stepped up and taken on responsibility for their health.” said Mellve Shahid, TEN co-founder.
This is not the first collaboration between the two entities. They have partnered to increase prostate cancer awareness and health education to promote access to free PSA screenings for men.
“We recognize that we cannot sit idly by while so many African American men remain unaware of the threat of prostate cancer in their community and the hope of early detection and treatment,” said Dwayne Butler, CEO at People’s.
The PSA, or prostate specific antigen test, screens for elevated levels of a protein produced by the prostate in the bloodstream, an early indicator of prostate cancer.
“Being a prostate cancer survivor should not bring about shame. It brings about a great testimony and reason to celebrate life,” Shahid added.
Even though all men may be at risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that African American men have a higher mortality rate of prostate cancer than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S.
“It’s going to be a wonderful affair and an opportunity to get awareness about prostate cancer,” said TEN Co-founder Isadore Wayne. “We want everyone to wear something blue – a blue tie or a blue scarf, representing prostate cancer.”
Tickets for the semi-formal gala are $20 each. For more information, contact Carl Green at 314-249-7589 or Isadore Wayne at 314-497-7390.