Crucial Catch Day held in Asbury Park
One of 30 NFL sponsored events across the nation
Last week’s Crucial Catch Day held at the local Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey (VNACJ) Community Health Center on Main Street was one of 30 NFL and American Cancer Society events held nationally and the only one its kind held in the state, organizers said.
Designed to educate women about the importance of regular breast exams and to help reduce breast cancer rates in underserved communities, it also served as an outreach to underinsured or uninsured individuals who would not otherwise get potentially life-saving screenings.
“When you are struggling to pay your rent and feed your family, getting screened for cancer and other diseases are not at the top of your to-do list,” said Dr. Kristine McCoy, Executive Director at the VNACJ Community Health Center in a written statement. “This event was critical in reaching women who might otherwise lack the money, time, or resources to access important breast cancer screenings and we are deeply grateful to the American Cancer Society and the NFL Foundation for CHANGE for supporting this initiative.”
Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling [D-Monmouth] and Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton were among the 115 who attended the free breast cancer screening event the coupled food, music, games, and a photo booth with the health awareness information.
The VNACJ Community Health Center is a part of the Children and Family Health Institute at VNA Health Group. In 2015, more than 50,000 New Jersey residents accessed free or low-cost health services through the Children and Family Health Institute.
In New Jersey, female breast cancer accounts for 15 percent of all cancer cases according to a 2012 report by the American Cancer Society, yet almost 16 percent of women ages 18 – 44 are uninsured and therefore less likely to receive life-saving screenings, officials said.
[photos courtesy of the Visiting Nurse Association ]
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