Quincy, MA, May 29, 2024 — As part of its Florida Prostate Cancer Disparity Rally, PHEN hosted a panel discussion at the 30th Anniversary Retreat for the AME Sons of Allen, coordinated by Rev. George Hardy, 11th AME Church District Coordinator, Sons of Allen. The event was hosted at the New Bethel AME Church in Quincy, Florida, where Rev. Charles A. Morris is the pastor.
PHEN’s Director of Church Partnerships Rev. Adrian Backus kicked off the panel discussion with a passionate message to the church leaders that prostate cancer is a crisis within their communities, and invited them all to partner with PHEN to combat this health crisis. He also announced that more than 100 AME churches had joined PHEN as church leaders.
Over 150 men attended the retreat where the theme was “No Man Left Behind.” PHEN offered free prostate cancer early detection blood tests at the event in partnership with the Prostate Conditions Educational Council (PCEC). Fifty men were screened at the event, including AME senior leaders who encouraged all men in attendance to get screened.
“We have been left behind for years because we are afraid to go get tested,” said Bishop Frank M. Reid, III, Presiding Prelate of the 11th Episcopal District AME Church. “I have lost 10 friends recently who have died from advanced stage prostate cancer. If it is caught early, it can save your life.”
In a show of support and solidarity, Bishop Reid, III stated that, as the incoming president of the AME Bishops Council, he will add PHEN to the Council’s agenda for a meeting later this summer.
“PHEN is here to support the AME churches and we have created ‘ever-present’ resources about prostate cancer for churches and their members to access for free online or order materials for distribution,” said Thomas A. Farrington, president and founder of PHEN and a 24-year prostate cancer survivor. “We are excited to see the great response with more than 100 churches joining us during our Florida Rally.”
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