Black Cancer Summit Set For DC

BOSTON, MA -- The Prostate Health Education Network, Inc. (PHEN) will have a major focus on enhancing partnerships with churches in the fight against prostate cancer when it hosts its "Sixth Annual African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit" on September 16th and 17th, 2010, in Washington, DC. The summit session on Friday, September 17th at the Washington Convention Center, as part of the Congressional Black Caucus "Annual Legislative Conference," will be devoted entirely to PHEN's outreach efforts working with Black churches nationwide.

Black men are diagnosed with prostate cancer at a rate 60% higher, and die from the disease at a rate 150% higher than all other men. This is the largest racial disparity for any type of cancer and its impact is staggering. PHEN's Rally Against Prostate Cancer (RAP Cancer) initiatives center on educating and engaging Black Communities in the fight against the disease.

PHEN and hundreds of churches across the country successfully partnered in PHEN's first annual "Father's Day Rally Against Prostate Cancer" this year. The summit session will build on this foundation for an expanded partnership effort. Congressional leaders and leaders from the National and Progressive Baptist Conventions and the African Methodist Episcopal Church will participate in the session on the 17th. They will be joined by Reverend Roosevelt Grier, former pro football player and prostate cancer survivor, along with survivor and R&B singer Charlie Wilson. Wilson will fete the session attendees with a song as well.

"Working in partnership with churches, in combination with our national survivor network and internet educational tools, PHEN will be able to reach into most Black communities in the country. Knowledge is the best defense against prostate cancer and our communities need to become the most knowledgeable to eliminate the prostate cancer crisis and which is our goal," states Thomas Farrington, PHEN president and founder.

Both days of the summit are open to the public and free of charge. Prostate cancer survivors, church and community leaders along with medical professionals are encouraged to attend the summit and join in PHEN’s “Rally Against Prostate Cancer.

The Prostate Health Education Network, Inc. (PHEN) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded in 2003 by Thomas A. Farrington, a prostate cancer survivor, and author of the books "Battling the Killer Within," and "Battling The Killer Within and Winning." PHEN is based in Greater Boston, Massachusetts and implements prostate cancer education and awareness initiatives nationwide.