An Event So Big It Was 20 Years In The Making

Aug. 30, 2013 - PRLog -- A SPECIAL EVENT SO BIG IT WAS TWENTY YEARS IN THE MAKING

October 2013 marks 20 years of WUSA 9‘s award-winning Buddy Check 9 breast cancer awareness program. The 20 year celebration of Buddy Check 9 will culminate in an exclusive VIP red carpet screening of the most important movie about breast cancer ever made; Decoding Annie Parker, a not-yet-released film starring Helen Hunt.

WUSA 9’s Buddy Check 9 program was started in 1993 by WUSA 9 news anchor Andrea Roane (http://www.wusa9.com/life/company/article/37259/133/Andrea-Roane--Weekday-Morning-Anchor). Buddy Check 9 is a popular and life-saving initiative, developed to remind viewers to team up with a friend in reminding one another to follow the National cancer Institute’s 3-step breast examination early detection program on the 9^th of every month.

Decoding Annie Parker tells the true story of two remarkable women, Dr. Mary Claire King and Annie Parker, each touched by hereditary breast cancer in her own way: Ms. Parker battles the disease and Dr. King’s genetic research leads to the discovery of the BRCA1 breast cancer gene.

To commemorate the 20^th anniversary and celebrate the successes of Buddy Check 9, WUSA 9 has partnered with the nonprofit organization FORCE, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered on the exclusive movie screening.  FORCE is a national nonprofit dedicated to serving those impacted by the hereditary risk of breast or ovarian cancer. As a final push to increase awareness of the fight against breast cancer WUSA 9 will feature special stories in their 5AM and 5PM newscasts of DC area men and women who like Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, have faced down a hereditary risk of cancer.

“With the screening of this feature film here in Washington, DC there is a tremendous opportunity to educate people about the importance of knowing their family medical history and speaking to a genetics expert if a pattern of cancer presents itself,” said Karen Kramer, FORCE’s Vice President of Marketing.

The Decoding Annie Parker film screening will take place Tuesday, October 1^st at AFI’s Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, MD.  WUSA 9 plans live coverage from the red carpet event.  Tickets can be purchased by visiting WUSA 9’s website and proceeds will benefit FORCE.

“We at WUSA 9 are proud to work with FORCE this year to raise awareness of the hereditary risk of breast cancer,” says WUSA 9 President and General Manager Mark Burdett, “Health coverage is an important part of our commitment to our viewers and we are proud to celebrate 20 years of our Buddy Check 9 program in this way.”

About Gannett
Gannett Co., Inc.  is an international media and marketing solutions company that informs and engages more than 100 million people every month through its powerful network of broadcast, digital, mobile and publishing properties. Our portfolio of trusted brands offers marketers unmatched local-to-national reach and customizable, innovative marketing solutions across any platform. Gannett is committed to connecting people-and the companies who want to reach them—with their interests and communities

About FORCE

For more than 15 years, FORCE has been the voice of the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer community. FORCE provides support, education and awareness to help those facing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer know their healthcare options and make informed decisions. The organization is the de facto leader in guiding critical research and policy issues that impact the hereditary breast cancer and ovarian cancer community.  For more information about FORCE and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, please visit www.facingourrisk.org.

For more information contact:

Sandra Gehring
Director of Marketing, WUSA 9
202-895-5970
sgehring@wusa9.com