Friday, October 31, 2003

Wilmington, NC – Programming for the week of November 3, UNCW Community Link, an interactive, public affairs television show chats with Dr. Perri Bomar and the Mayor of Bolton, Frank Wilson, concerning the new initiative for Prostate Cancer Education, Advocacy and Screening. Also interviewed are Mimi Cunningham, Christine Farley, and Rick Hairston, all of whom are involved with the Landfall Foundation.

H.E. “Hunter” Thompson speaks with Bomar, the Associate Dean for Research and Community Partnerships in the UNCW School of Nursing. Prostate cancer is a disease that remains undetected in most men until its later stages. Lack of knowledge on the disease prevents men from being tested for this cancer. African-American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the United States. With the help of Bolton Mayor Frank Wilson, a new program has been created to raise awareness on the disease. Funded by the Cape Fear Memorial Foundation, a total of 90 men will be involved in the Brother to Brother project.

Bomar explained, “The program’s purpose is to teach African-American men about prostate cancer, provide them with a screening, and encourage them to spread the word to their friends and relatives.”

“Lots of men diagnosed with prostate cancer had no idea they even had it. Information is getting out to the community, to the men. The whole objective is to try to save lives,” Mayor Wilson said.

An educational forum, a free screening and blood test will be available in Brunswick and Columbus counties to 90 men who take part in the Brother to Brother education and mentoring program.

Since 1996 the Landfall Foundation has helped to support a variety of non-profit organizations in our area. This year they will provide 47 not-for-profit agencies with $108,000. Betty Ann Sanders speaks with the head of the foundation, Mimi Cunningham.

“Under the categories of art, health and welfare and education, we look for niche agencies with no political or religious affiliation. The Landfall Foundation has already donated one-third of a million dollars to non-profit agencies,” said Mimi Cunningham.

One local organization benefited by the Landfall Foundation is Carolina Canines. Due to the foundation’s help, Carolina Canines was able to start several new programs. Rick Hairston, the Executive Director, was accompanied by Moses, one of the Carolina Canines. The Landfall Foundation organizes two fundraisers each year; an art event held in the fall and an elegant gala. This year’s fall art event scheduled for November 13-15 is the Plein Air Paint Out. Wilmington artist Christine Farley explains that the artists will paint with oils and work exclusively outside; there will be three sites to watch the artists create their paintings. Finished projects will be on sale at the Fountainside Gallery in Lumina Station on Saturday November 15. Forty percent of all the sales will benefit the community through the Landfall Foundation.



This week’s Editorially Yours segment is provided by Dr. Eleanor Krassen Covan, Professor of Sociology and director of gerontology at UNCW.

UNCW Community Link reaches beyond the television studio to allow citizens to sound off on compelling issues facing Southeastern North Carolina. Hosts Sanders and Thompson engage and challenge the region’s newsmakers and opinion-shapers and then ask viewers to voice their opinions. Through collaboration with the Southeast Public Interest Network of North Carolina (www.SpinNC.org), citizens can use the latest Internet technologies to continue the dialog on show topics and community ideas. UNCW Community Link is brought to you in part by the following sponsors: Time Warner Cable, Wilmington Star-News and WHQR Public Radio.



Tune into UNCW Community Link:

Wilmington & Brunswick County can tune in on The Learning Network, Time Warner Ch 5 and Charter Communications Ch 12 at 7 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays

Pender County can tune in on Government Channel 8 at 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Carteret County/Havelock can tune in on Time Warner Channel 10 at 7 p.m. on Thursdays

Jacksonville can tune in on Time Warner Channel 10 at 7 p.m. on Thursdays