Prostate Net and Barbers International Launch Global Men's Health Partnership During Prostate Awareness Month-September 2006
Prostate Net and Barbers International (BI) will use the power and influence of neighborhood barbershops to persuade men to get screened for prostate cancer and be more proactive about their overall health. The campaign launches September 2006—Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and National Barber Month.
NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) August 29, 2006 -–
The Prostate Net and Barbers International (BI) will use the power and influence of neighborhood barbershops to persuade men to get screened for prostate cancer and be more proactive about their overall health. The campaign launches September 2006—Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and National Barber Month.
Since 1995, The Prostate Net (www. TheProstateNet. com) has kept men and their families “in the know,” continuing their leadership role in community health advocacy regarding prostate cancer and other important health issues, via aggressive public education, early detection, treatment programs and support systems. BI is the leading source for barber education and men’s grooming and includes barbers, educators, barber students and hair professionals.
At the upcoming Barber International Conference (www. BarbersInternational. com), The Prostate Net will train barbers as “lay health motivators” during an education session, led by urologists. Armed with knowledge, barbers will return to their hometowns and direct clients to partner hospitals and health centers for screenings and information about treatment options. The Prostate Net is a founding sponsor for the conference, October 14-16, 2006, Orleans Hotel and Casino, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada.
“We provide a means to cope, until there is a cure,” said Virgil Simons Founder and President, The Prostate Net. “This exciting partnership expands our service matrix which includes ‘wired barbershops,' computer-based learning systems with direct barber/customer access to life-changing information about prostate cancer, heart disease, hypertension, nutrition and exercise” (www. TheKnowledgeNet. info). In 2004, Simons launched the original “Going to the Barbershop to Fight Cancer” initiative, timed to coincide with the release of MGM’s BarberShop 2 Back in Business movie. To date, more than 12,000 men have been screened in partnership with barbers and 50 leading medical centers.
“Our barbers are excited about being a part of this important network,” says Don Fagan, BI Executive Director. “What a great way to positively impact the quality of a client’s life—on the inside, via health tips and on the outside, with a stylish haircut, shave or other services!” The 2007 promotional campaign will include a nationwide Father’s Day “Barbershop Challenge to Good Health” (June) with BI member pod casts via The Knowledge Net and hyperlinks to shops nationwide. Participating barbers will receive vendor incentives, access to important community health resources, brochures and step-by-step guidance, training and support to craft a community relations program to meet their needs. And, because it’s important for barbers to stay healthy, BarberBenefits. com will be at the conference to offer health insurance plans.
Due to widespread interest and enthusiasm from physicians, researchers, pharmaceutical giants and foundations, the “Going to the Barbershop” initiative has expanded beyond its initial target of urban centers. For the past two years, the award-winning barbershop program has been featured at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) convention; articles have appeared in the Lancet, international medical journal and The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Barbers International, Incorporated
Corporate Headquarters: 2708 Pine Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Www. BarbersInternational. com
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