While Asian Americans have lower death rates from heart disease, HIV/AIDS, and cancer compared to the general population, cancer is still the leading cause of death among Asian Americans, according to research by the Kaiser Family Foundation/Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, the American Cancer Society, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The research has also determined the following:
• Cancer rates are highest among Chinese Americans.
• Prostate cancer is more common and deadly among Filipino men.
• Vietnamese women have the highest incidence of cervical cancer and death rates from this type of cancer.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is currently reaching out to Seattle APIs to raise cancer awareness. St. Jude is a pediatric cancer research center dedicated to treating childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases worldwide.
On Saturday, November 22, the community is invited to the 2014 St. Jude “Give thanks. Walk” at Seattle Center.
Join St. Jude supporters in the Seattle community and in more than 65 cities nationwide to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Registration for this family-friendly event is free. All participants are encouraged to raise money to help save children battling cancer and other deadly diseases.
“We have a current patient from Washington that people will get to hear from and their experience from St. Jude and we also have a former patient family and their daughter’s success story that you will also learn about,” said Jill Witsoe, a Multicultural Event Marketing Representative with St. Jude. “It’s a great day for Seattle to come together as a community. Last year, because so many different areas and different demographics came together, we actually doubled our funds raised and we doubled the amount of walkers.”
65 other communities throughout the country will also be taking part in the “Give thanks. Walk” on November 22.
“We’re the second largest public healthcare charity organization,” Witsoe said, “and 75 percent of that is we survive on public donation. The average donation is about $30 and we are able to keep our doors open because of that. It’s a great day for people to learn about St. Jude and learn that we freely share our research.”
St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
Registration for the “Give thanks. Walk” on November 22 opens at 7:30 a.m. The 5K walk begins at 8:30 a.m. The family friendly event will feature children’s activities, prizes and fun for the whole family. Registration is free. In addition to supporting St. Jude, participants can receive incentives at the $35, $100, and $250 levels to help make greater strides in achieving their fundraising goals. Prizes include a St. Jude “Give thanks. Walk.” t-shirt, tumbler, and tote bag. For more information, visit http://goo.gl/Hdz3Or.