FCNNEWSSOURCE
(FinalCall.com)–On May 11, the Grand Ballroom of Chicago’s Hilton and Towers hotel will be the place to be. On that day, family, friends and supporters will gather to pay homage to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan on his 70th birth anniversary and to launch a major health organization in his name.
“The Farrakhan Years: Yesterday, Today, and Forever–The Legacy” will be a black-tie affair that will offer tribute to Min. Farrakhan through a chronicling of his life with emphasis on his 48 years of dedicated service to humanity. The evening will begin with a 6:30 p.m. banquet featuring dignitaries, surprise guests and entertainers.
A highlight of the evening will be the unveiling of the Louis Farrakhan Prostate Cancer Foundation, in recognition of Min. Farrakhan’s triumph over the disease. The Foundation’s goals are to bring more awareness to prostate cancer and prevention and to assist men who have no health care insurance with pre-screening, post-operative treatment, alternative treatment and seed implantation.
›Min. Farrakhan’s public bout with prostate cancer already has brought additional national attention to the disease, says Foundation board member Maria Farrakhan Muhammad, daughter of Min. Farrakhan. The weekend event and the launching of the Foundation are to show honor to the Minister and to give more back to the community, which has been a hallmark of his life, she says.
“We are hoping that, through the Foundation, Black men will see the need to take care of themselves in a proper and swift manner,” Ms. Muhammad says. “This disease moves rapidly and it’s devastating our communities.
“Not only has my father suffered, but I lost my uncle to prostate cancer as well. Our desire is not to lose any more lives due to neglect of ourselves.”
Ms. Muhammad notes that one-in-six men tested will test positive for prostate cancer, with more than 50 percent of them being Black. She adds that diet, stress and high blood pressure are major factors for testing positive for prostate cancer. Also, Black men are more likely to die from the disease than their Caucasian or Asian American counterparts, she says.
“Our vision is to provide men from urban inner city communities with information, medical referral and annual pre-screening for the disease. The future vision is to house a center where patients will have access to urologists, radiation, oncologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, social workers, geneticists, outreach specialists and administrative support staff,” she says.
Tickets are $150. For information, call (773) 363-6130.
