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ACTOR LARENZ TATE TOURS TO BUILD AWARENESS OF THE DANGERS OF IRON OVERLOAD: Directed at People With Sickle Cell Disease
East Hanover, NJ -- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious, life-long blood disorder that can cause painful episodes called "sickle crisis", and also may increase the risk of stroke3a and affects an estimated one in 500 African Americans.[i]a Blood transfusions are a standard treatment to help reduce or prevent some of these complications.
However, repeated blood transfusions can cause too much iron to build up in the body and damage key organs such as the liver or heart, leading to further health problems, which may be fatal.[ii]a
In observance of National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month, and as part of his personal commitment to raising awareness of sickle cell disease, acclaimed actor Larenz Tate will embark on a series of grassroots community events and attend a major medical conference this September.
Acclaimed for powerful performances in the Academy Award®-winning films "Ray" and "Crash", Tate's appearances will continue his involvement with the national health education campaign, Be Sickle Smart: Ask About Iron.
Partnering with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Tate is continuing in his role as national spokesperson for the Be Sickle Smart; Ask About Iron campaign that he began in the fall of 2006. Be Sickle Smart: Ask About Iron is designed to raise awareness about iron overload, a serious treatment consequence that may affect people who get regular blood transfusions for sickle cell disease. While blood transfusions provide healthy red blood cells that are needed by patients with sickle cell disease, they also contain additional iron. This was the leading factor that prompted the launch of the Be Sickle Smart: Ask About Iron program.
"As an actor, I believe that my greatest roles are ones that inspire and uplift," says Larenz Tate. "I am therefore wholly committed to my latest role in the Be Sickle Smart; Ask About Iron campaign, as it is a role that can inspire people to take action and control over their health and their lives. My brothers and I are honored to lend our names and support to advance this cause as we work to raise awareness, encourage dialogue and inspire others to do the same in the fight against sickle cell disease and iron overload."
A major highlight of the Be Sickle Smart: Ask About Iron campaign is an inspirational gospel music contest designed to celebrate the strength of sickle cell disease patients as they strive to "lighten the load". Local churches in communities nationwide submitted songs specifically composed to inspire and uplift people living with sickle cell disease and their families. In turn, thousands of people voted for their favorites on the website to select the winning songs. Leaders from the gospel music community, including Verity Records President and CEO Jazzy Jordan, served as judges in the contest, now in its second year. The winning songs have been compiled into an Inspirational CD album called "Lighten the Load," and a series of CD release parties will be held in Birmingham, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Jacksonville, Los Angeles and St. Louis to showcase the winning choirs and songs.
Tate's involvement with this year's Be Sickle Smart: Ask About Iron program will include appearances in Chicago on Thursday, September 13 in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, September 20 at the 35th anniversary convention of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, in St. Louis on Sunday, September 23, and in Detroit, on Saturday, September 29. The St. Louis event will feature a series of performances by local gospel choirs who participated in the gospel CD contest.
Throughout his travels, Tate encourages SCD patients and their caregivers to speak with their doctors about iron overload and to visit the website, www.AskAboutIron.com for current information about the condition and sample questions that patients can ask their doctors. Tate has personally witnessed the ravages of sickle cell disease, having lost close family friends to the disorder. Turning loss into passion, Tate co-founded the Tate Bros. Foundation with his brothers, actor Lahmard Tate ("Barbershop" and "Rocky Balboa") and screenwriter LaRon Tate, who also serves as president of the Foundation. The Chicago-based, not-for-profit organization, assists and provides funds for children and adolescents living with sickle cell disease.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that can cause red blood cells to assume a sickle or crescent shaped. This causes pain, tissue damage and blockages as the cells move through blood vessels. If blockage occurs in blood vessels serving the brain the condition may lead to stroke. Blood transfusions can save lives, but as few as 10 transfusions may lead to iron overload in key organs such as the liver and heart, and other places in the body. If iron overload is not diagnosed or treated, over time it can be life threatening.
While sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in the U.S., there has been a lack of public understanding about the life-long condition, which offers few outward signs that a patient is truly suffering. Children with sickle cell disease often miss school and cannot participate in physical activities because of challenges such as severe pain episodes or regular therapy with blood transfusions.
"The irony of blood transfusions for people with sickle cell disease is that they can be an important part of health maintenance, but can also lead to serious, potentially life-threatening consequences," says Willarda V. Edwards, MD, President and COO of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. "Larenz Tate's involvement with this health education initiative is very important as education and access to information is vital for people with sickle cell disease. This campaign will undoubtedly raise awareness and encourage people to have informed discussions with their doctors about the danger of iron overload and whether they might be at risk."
To learn more about Be Sickle Smart: Ask About Iron, please visit www.AskLarenzAboutIron.com . The Be Sickle Smart: Ask About Iron campaign offers free information, provides questions to discuss with your doctor and tools to help patients learn more about sickle cell disease and iron overload.
About Sickle Cell Disease
In the United States, sickle cell disease affects about 72,000 people, primarily African Americans. While there is no cure for sickle cell disease, early diagnosis can help people live longer, healthier and more productive lives. Managing sickle cell disease often requires the use of antibiotics, pain management therapies, intravenous fluids, surgical procedures and regular blood transfusions.
Sickle cells die much more quickly than normal red blood cells. Thus the blood is chronically short of red blood cells, a condition known as anemia. Repeated blood transfusions are a standard treatment for some with sickle cell disease and they help reduce the complications of the disease. In 2004, the Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia STOP II trial found that continued blood transfusions help prevent the risk of stroke in some children with sickle cell disease.
About Iron Overload
Frequent blood transfusions have been shown to prolong survival and improve quality of life in patients with various underlying blood disorders such as SCD. However, with every blood transfusion, a patient also receives iron, a key part of each red blood cell. When the level of iron in the body gets too high, it can become toxic. In some cases, the need for transfusion and iron overload treatment lasts a lifetime.
About Novartis
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation researches, develops, manufactures and markets leading innovative drugs used to treat a number of diseases and conditions, including those in the cardiovascular, metabolic, cancer, organ transplantation, central nervous system, dermatological, gastrointestinal and respiratory areas. The company's mission is to improve people's lives by pioneering novel healthcare solutions.
Located in East Hanover, New Jersey, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is an affiliate of Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) - a world leader in offering medicines to protect health, treat disease and improve well-being. Our goal is to discover, develop and successfully market innovative products to treat patients, ease suffering and enhance the quality of life. Novartis is the only company with leadership positions in both patented and generic pharmaceuticals. We are strengthening our medicine-based portfolio, which is focused on strategic growth platforms in innovation-driven pharmaceuticals, high-quality and low-cost generics and leading self-medication OTC brands. In 2005, the Group's businesses achieved net sales of USD 32.2 billion and net income of USD 6.1 billion. Approximately USD 4.8 billion was invested in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 91,000 people and operates in over 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.
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source:
Helen Shelton
Ruder Finn, Inc.
sheltonh@ruderfinn.com
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