Press Release

Contact:Jennifer Ryan
732-235-9891
ryanje@umdnj.edu

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey AND NJ TRANSIT Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Heritage of Health Campaign Promotes Cancer Awareness in the Hispanic Community

9/13/05—Noting that cancer is the second leading cause of death within the Hispanic community, NJ TRANSIT, in partnership with The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) today launched the "Heritage of Health" Campaign, a statewide awareness effort to promote early cancer screening using hundreds of posters aboard NJ TRANSIT buses and light rail vehicles throughout the state. The posters will be in English and Spanish and promote cancer awareness among New Jersey’s Hispanic population.

"New Jersey is one of the most culturally diverse areas in the United States," said George D. Warrington, executive director of NJ TRANSIT. "As such, it is our responsibility to celebrate that diversity, while providing a public service to New Jersey’s Hispanic communities."

As part of their partnership, NJ TRANSIT and CINJ will promote the importance of cancer screening and early detection in the Hispanic community and provide information about screening programs and opportunities at CINJ Network Hospitals and other locations across the state. A complete list of screening events throughout New Jersey is available at www.njtransit.com.

"We are honored that NJ TRANSIT has chosen CINJ as a partner for the "Heritage of Health" Campaign and look forward to working with them to educate New Jersey’s Hispanic community about the importance of cancer screenings and prevention," said William N. Hait, M.D., Ph.D., director of CINJ, associate dean of oncology programs and professor of medicine and pharmacology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

"The only way to stay healthy is to see a doctor when you are healthy," said U.S. Representative Robert Menendez. "This campaign will help our Hispanic families do just that by getting information to them as part of the hustle and bustle of their daily lives -- on their way to work, to buy groceries, to school, or to play. This type of community outreach and prevention is exactly what I've worked to create in my Patient Navigator law, which was recently signed by the President. I applaud and support the NJ TRANSIT and CINJ partnership for launching a campaign that ensures our New Jersey families get the information they need to live long, healthy lives."