- Spring 2005-

Anheuser-Busch Announces National Prostate Cancer Initiative

Testimonials from celebrity survivors, life-saving advice, and an appeal to women were highlights of the "Set the Date," a prostate cancer awareness campaign led by Anheuser-Busch, Inc.

Anheuser-Busch has partnered with 100 Black Men of America, Inc., the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., and the Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural and Minority Medicine to create "Set the Date." The two-year initiative asks African-American women to urge the men in their lives to get tested for prostate cancer. To combat the crisis of prostate cancer in the African-American community, "Set the Date" will include testing at African-American events and conventions across the nation, as well as a public service campaign.

Billy Davis Jr. and his wife, Marilyn McCoo, formerly of singing group The Fifth Dimension, were among the celebrities who shared their personal testimonies on the importance of scheduling annual prostate exams. McCoo urged women to "be a nag" when it comes to making sure the men in their lives not only make a doctor's appointment, but also in keeping the appointment. Davis also shared that without the support of his wife, his faith and early testing, he would not have survived to tell his story.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), African-American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer than men of other races, and they tend to develop it younger and in more aggressive forms. For this reason, the ACS suggests African-American men begin prostate cancer testing at age 45, or younger if they have other risk factors, such as a close relative who has the disease.

Bishop Eddie L. Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church shared that several of his close male relatives have either experienced or died from prostate cancer. "I consider myself a prostate cancer conqueror," he said while describing his personal victory over this devastating disease.

"At Anheuser-Busch we strongly believe in using our resources to make a difference in the community. By raising awareness about the effects of prostate cancer we hope to increase the number of men receiving early testing and creating more prostate cancer conquerors like Bishop Long and Billy Davis Jr.," says Johnny Furr Jr., vice president of sales development and community affairs for Anheuser-Busch, Inc.

For more information, visit www.africanamericanbud.com.

Pictured from left to right (front row): Dr. Natalie Carroll, chairwoman of the Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural and Minority Medicine; Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., formerly of the singing group The Fifth Dimension; Dr. Dorothy Height, chairwoman of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.; (top row): Woodie Lesesne, president and chief executive officer of Lesesne Media Group; Johnny Furr Jr., vice president of Sales Development and Community Affairs for Anheuser-Busch, Inc.; Madeline Moore, president of Moore Creative; Thomas Dortch, chairman of 100 Black Men of America; and Bishop Eddie L. Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.